Bill Owens, the executive producer of CBS News’ “60 Minutes,” resigned unexpectedly on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, due to concerns about journalistic independence amid a lawsuit involving CBS’ parent company, Paramount Global, and President Donald Trump.
This resignation represents a major change for the renowned news program, which has been experiencing increased pressure due to legal issues and corporate conflicts.
In a memo obtained by The Post, Owens stated his reason for stepping down: “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, who is 57, will continue his role through the current season of “60 Minutes,” concluding on May 18. CBS News president Wendy McMahon announced Tanya Simon, executive editor and daughter of the late “60 Minutes” correspondent Bill Simon, will serve as interim executive producer following Owens’ exit.
Owens’ resignation coincides with reports that Paramount Global is engaged in settlement discussions regarding a $20 billion lawsuit filed by President Trump. The lawsuit claims misconduct related to alleged deceptive editing of a “60 Minutes” interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris in October 2024 during the presidential campaign.
Within CBS, sources suggest veteran correspondent Lesley Stahl, who has been with “60 Minutes” since 1991, is contemplating retirement. Stahl, 83, faced criticism from Trump after a 2020 interview where she questioned the credibility of the Hunter Biden laptop story. Trump has demanded an apology from Stahl and the program, which the network has not addressed.
A CBS insider described the atmosphere within the network as tense, suggesting Owens resigned before facing potential termination.
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 pushed for Owens’ removal following a January report on the Gaza War, which she deemed biased.
Another CBS insider interpreted the events as politically driven, asserting that President Trump had effectively targeted Owens in a campaign against perceived media adversaries.
The unrest extends beyond Owens’ situation. Earlier this month, Brendan Carr, chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), committed to accelerating an investigation into CBS over allegations of political bias. Last month, Carr denied 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.
Criticism of Owens’ leadership has emerged from within CBS in recent years. One insider claimed that under Owens, the “CBS Evening News,” which he also oversaw, has declined. The show relaunched in January with co-hosts Jeff Dickerson and Maurice DuBois, initially attracting 5.2 million viewers but recently dropping to about 3.7 million.
The same source argued that “60 Minutes” has drifted from its investigative origins under Mike Wallace, instead focusing on promoting books and films and favoring left-leaning perspectives. “Every allegation of bias only tilts one way and it’s always in the favor of the Democrats,” the insider commented.
On April 13, President Trump criticized CBS on social media, stating the network was “out of control” and 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, becoming only the third person to lead the program in its 57-year history. In his farewell message to the staff, he emphasized the importance of the show’s mission to hold power accountable.
Owens expressed that “60 Minutes” would continue to cover the new administration and future administrations, stressing that the program is too important to the country to halt, though it will proceed without him as executive producer.
McMahon praised Owens for his contributions to CBS News, stating that supporting his principles was an easy decision and that she valued his support. She emphasized the network’s ongoing commitment to journalistic integrity.
The controversy arises amid broader tensions between media organizations and the Trump administration. Free speech advocates have raised concerns about the precedent set by the FCC’s investigation, warning that government involvement in editorial decisions poses a risk to journalistic independence.
