60 Minutes Correspondents Announce Decision to Stay Amid Turmoil

Correspondents Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker, and Jon Wertheim of '60 Minutes' announced on June 5, 2026, that they will remain with the program following recent staff firings that have caused unrest within the newsroom. In a memo to colleagues, they expressed their concerns about the firings of executive producer Tanya Simon and producer Draggan Mihailovich, stating that these leaders were dismissed for defending the program's values and integrity. The correspondents emphasized their commitment to independent journalism and their desire to work collaboratively with new executive producer Nick Bilton, while also expressing fears that their return could be seen as an endorsement of the current management. They stated, 'If we can continue doing the work that made this show what it is — committing acts of independent, fearless journalism and storytelling — we’re here for it. If not, we leave.' The announcement comes after a week of significant changes and tensions within the program, including the firing of Scott Pelley, who publicly challenged the management's decisions.