Bill Owens, executive producer of CBS News’ “60 Minutes,” resigned unexpectedly on Tuesday, April 22, citing concerns about journalistic independence as CBS’ parent company, Paramount Global, encounters a lawsuit from President Donald Trump.
This unexpected resignation indicates a major change for the renowned news show, which has been under increasing pressure amid legal issues and internal corporate friction.
In a memo acquired by The Post, Owens explained his decision to resign: “Over the past months, it has become clear that I would not be allowed to run the show as I have always run it, to make independent decisions based on what was right for ’60 Minutes,’ right for the audience.”
Owens, 57, will remain with the show through the current season, ending on May 18. CBS News president Wendy McMahon announced that Tanya Simon, executive editor and daughter of the late “60 Minutes” correspondent Bill Simon, will serve as interim executive producer following Owens’ departure.
The resignation coincides with Paramount Global’s reported settlement discussions concerning a $20 billion lawsuit filed by President Trump. The lawsuit alleges “unlawful and illegal behavior” related to what Trump claims was misleading editing of a “60 Minutes” interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris last October during the 2024 presidential campaign.
Within CBS, sources indicate that veteran correspondent Lesley Stahl, a “60 Minutes” contributor since 1991, might be contemplating retirement. Stahl, 83, previously faced criticism from Trump after a 2020 interview where she questioned the validity of the Hunter Biden laptop story. Trump has repeatedly demanded an apology from Stahl and the program, which the network has not addressed.
A CBS insider described the network’s atmosphere as tense, suggesting that Owens may have resigned to avoid being dismissed.
The situation is further complicated by Paramount’s pending $8 billion merger with Skydance Media. Shari Redstone, whose family controls Paramount and stands to gain approximately $1.75 billion from the merger, reportedly advocated for Owens’ removal following a January report on the Gaza War that she found biased.
Another CBS insider interpreted the event as politically motivated, saying President Trump had effectively “got his head” in a campaign of “settling scores” against perceived media adversaries.
The turmoil goes beyond Owens’ personal situation. Earlier this month, Brendan Carr, chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), pledged to accelerate an investigation into CBS over accusations of political bias. Last month, Carr rejected CBS’s attempt to dismiss a complaint against the network. The FCC investigation follows a complaint filed by a conservative nonprofit group, the Center for American Rights.
CBS critics have questioned Owens’ leadership in recent years. One insider claimed he had “run into the ground” the “CBS Evening News,” which Owens also oversaw. The program relaunched in January with co-hosts Jeff Dickerson and Maurice DuBois, initially drawing 5.2 million viewers but recently declining to about 3.7 million.
The same source argued that “60 Minutes” had moved away from its investigative roots established by legendary correspondent Mike Wallace, instead becoming “headquarters of book and movie launches” and a “mouthpiece” for left-leaning viewpoints. “Every allegation of bias only tilts one way and it’s always in the favor of the Democrats,” the insider added.
On April 13, President Trump criticized CBS on social media, stating that the network was “out of control” and that they “should pay a big price for this.”
Owens began his career at CBS as a summer intern in 1988 and became executive producer of “60 Minutes” in 2019, only the third person to lead the program in its 57-year history. In his farewell message to staff, he maintained that the show must continue its mission of holding power accountable.
Owens stated that “60 Minutes” would continue covering the new administration, as well as future administrations, emphasizing that the show is too vital to the country to stop. However, Owens noted that it would move forward without him serving as the executive producer.
McMahon commended Owens for his contributions to CBS News, stating that supporting his principles was an easy decision for her and that she deeply valued his reciprocal support. She highlighted the network’s continued dedication to the program’s journalistic integrity.
The controversy occurs against a backdrop of broader tensions between news organizations and the Trump administration. Free speech advocates have expressed concern about the precedent set by the FCC’s investigation, warning that government intervention in editorial decisions threatens journalistic independence regardless of political affiliation.