Veteran journalist Scott Pelley has been terminated from '60 Minutes' following a public dispute with new CBS News leadership. The move comes after a heated staff meeting where Pelley criticized editorial chief Bari Weiss and her appointee Nick Bilton, accusing them of undermining the program. In a letter reviewed by Variety, Bilton informed Pelley that his employment was ending immediately, citing irreconcilable differences.

Pelley's departure marks the latest in a series of high-profile exits from the long-running newsmagazine, which has seen four correspondents and several senior managers leave since February. With only three correspondents — Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker, and Jon Wertheim — remaining, the show faces a significant restructuring ahead of its 59th season.

A respected figure in broadcast journalism, Pelley joined CBS News in 1989 and became a mainstay on '60 Minutes' and 'CBS Evening News.' He won numerous awards during his tenure, including half of all major honors the program received since 2004. Former executive producer Jeff Fager called his departure a 'huge blow' to the program. The leadership, meanwhile, says it remains committed to 'deep, revelatory journalism' despite the upheaval.