CBS News Implements Significant Staff Reductions Under New Leadership
CBS News has initiated a substantial round of layoffs, reducing its workforce by approximately 6 percent, which translates to around 60 employees affected. The cuts were announced on Friday through an internal memo distributed to staff by the network's controversial new editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss, and CBS News president Tom Cibrowski. This move is part of a broader strategic shift aimed at reorienting the network towards digital and streaming platforms to capture younger, more digitally engaged audiences.
Leadership and Strategic Overhaul Drive Workforce Changes
Bari Weiss, who assumed the role of editor-in-chief in October 2025 following Paramount's acquisition of her media startup, The Free Press, is spearheading these changes. At 41 years old, Weiss is pushing CBS News away from its traditional reliance on regular television broadcasts. The internal memo emphasized the necessity of adapting to a rapidly evolving news landscape, stating that some parts of the newsroom must shrink to allow for new investments and growth in competitive areas.
Before these latest layoffs, the network had already seen voluntary buyouts accepted by 11 staffers from CBS Evening News last month, representing about a quarter of that show's team. These buyouts were first offered in January as a preemptive measure ahead of company-wide reductions. The current layoffs come amid reports that CBS Evening News ratings have dipped below four million viewers for the first time since Tony Dokoupil became host, coinciding with Weiss's network overhaul.
Controversy and Editorial Shifts Accompany Staff Cuts
Weiss's tenure has not been without controversy beyond the staffing changes. Notably, a high-profile interview with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani was cancelled after he withdrew due to concerns over the network's coverage. Mamdani had been scheduled to meet with Robert Costa of "CBS Sunday Morning" but hesitated because of critical reporting from The Free Press, the pro-Israel digital outlet previously run by Weiss. Mamdani had condemned U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran as a "catastrophic escalation" and criticized civilian casualties, urging Americans to focus on domestic issues.
In response, CBS News contributor Masih Alinejad, who survived an assassination attempt by Iranian agents in 2025, rebuked Mamdani for overlooking threats to Iranian dissidents in New York. Weiss amplified this criticism on social media platform X, sharing a clip of Alinejad's comments with a "fire" emoji, which sources described as the final factor prompting Mamdani to back out. This incident highlights the editorial tensions and shifts under Weiss's leadership, as she aims to reshape the network's focus and appeal.
Future Directions and Industry Context
The layoffs at CBS News reflect broader trends in the media industry, where traditional networks are increasingly prioritizing digital transformation to stay relevant. Under owner Paramount Skydance's CEO David Ellison, the network is investing more resources into streaming and online platforms. While earlier reports had suggested potential cuts of up to 15 percent of the total workforce, the current reduction is set at 6 percent. A CBS News spokesperson did not address specific details of the layoffs when contacted but confirmed the distribution of the internal memo.
Employees affected by the layoffs were notified by the end of the day on Friday, with the memo acknowledging the difficulty of the situation and pledging to treat departing colleagues with care and respect. As CBS News navigates these changes, the focus remains on building a more competitive and digitally oriented news operation under Bari Weiss's direction, despite the controversies and challenges that have emerged.
