CBS News To Lay Off 6% Of Staff As Chief Editor And New Owner Look To Reshape Company

Last Updated:March 20, 2026, 20:49 IST

CBS News, led by Bari Weiss and Tom Cibrowski, laid off 6% of its workforce, affecting 60 employees, to adapt to changing audience habits after voluntary buyouts.

CBS News has initiated a fresh round of layoffs, cutting roughly 6% of its workforce as part of a broader restructuring effort led by editor-in-chief Bari Weiss and president and new owner Tom Cibrowski, who acquired the company in 2025.

The layoffs are expected to impact around 60 employees, though earlier reports had suggested the cuts could reach as high as 15%. The move follows weeks of voluntary buyouts offered to staff ahead of the decision.

In a memo to employees on Friday, Weiss and Cibrowski confirmed the layoffs, writing, “Today we are reducing the size of our workforce, and employees who are affected will be notified by the end of the day."

Acknowledging the human cost of the decision, they added, “These aren’t just names on a list. They are talented, committed colleagues who have been critical to our success," assuring that departing staff would be treated “with care and respect."

The leadership framed the cuts as part of a wider transformation within the news industry, pointing to shifting audience habits and the need to adapt. “It’s no secret that the news business is changing radically, and that we need to change along with it," the memo said.

They also indicated that the restructuring would involve difficult trade-offs within the newsroom. “Some parts of our newsroom must get smaller to make room for the things we must build to remain competitive," the note added.

This round of layoffs is seen internally as a key moment in Bari Weiss’ leadership, marking a more direct role in reshaping CBS News’ editorial and operational direction under owner David Ellison.

The cuts come after a series of cost-cutting measures earlier this year. In January, CBS offered employees a one-time voluntary buyout, and last month, 11 staffers from “CBS Evening News"—about a quarter of the programme’s workforce—opted to leave.

The flagship broadcast has also faced challenges, with viewership slipping below 4 million. Earlier this year, Tony Dokoupil was appointed anchor in a bid to revive ratings, replacing John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois, whose tenure also struggled to attract larger audiences.

The latest layoffs underline the ongoing transformation within legacy media organisations as they navigate declining television viewership and the shift toward digital platforms.

News world CBS News To Lay Off 6% Of Staff As Chief Editor And New Owner Look To Reshape Company

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