Henry Schuster, a nearly two-decade producer of CBS’s “60 Minutes,” confirmed his departure on LinkedIn Monday, saying it was “overshadowed” by staffing shakeups under editor-in-chief Bari Weiss. He says he took an opportunity in February and isn’t planning to
Henry Schuster stepped away from “60 Minutes” on a Monday morning that already felt consumed by change.
The longtime CBS newsmagazine producer confirmed he has officially left the program, posting the update on LinkedIn and telling followers his exit was “overshadowed” by recent staffing shakeups under embattled editor-in-chief Bari Weiss.
“I have been thinking about leaving for a while now and when the opportunity presented itself in February, I took it. And finally, it is official,” Schuster wrote as part of his farewell note.
Schuster’s goodbye framed the move as personal and overdue. “It has been a great run at ’60 Minutes’ and what I got to do there was extraordinary,” he added, while acknowledging his timing was shaped by the broader disruption hitting the broadcast.
The timeline suggests Schuster may have taken a buyout at the network when buyouts were offered earlier this year.
In his post, he directly referenced Weiss’ overhaul at “60 Minutes,” which included dismissals across the newsroom and new leadership choices. Executive Producer Tanya Simon. correspondents Cecilia Vega and Sharyn Alfonsi. among others. were dismissed. while tech journalist Nick Bilton was hired to serve as executive producer. Scott Pelley was later fired after he clashed with Bilton during a staff meeting. where Pelley accused Weiss of “murdering” the program.
Schuster’s own departure, he said, landed inside that same turbulence. “It has been overshadowed by the forced departures of so many colleagues and friends at the broadcast,” he wrote.
He didn’t suggest he was slowing down long-term. “What’s next?. I ain’t the retiring type. so after a bit of a break. I will think about what comes next. ” Schuster said. He teased possibilities—“Maybe I will finally get my high school diploma. or see if I have another book in me. Or maybe something else…”—but offered a clear message about what he isn’t doing yet.
Per Schuster, he has no plans to launch “a podcast or a Substack,” for now.
He ended his post by reaching out to his network for ideas. “If you have any interesting projects, please let me know,” he wrote. “I’m open to ideas.” Schuster also said, “My phone number will stay the same, for those who have it,” adding, “The tide is up. Time to get out there!”
Schuster joined “60 Minutes” in January 2007, working for nearly two decades. His tenure included reporting on the 2008 financial crisis, the rise of ISIS, and the Sandy Hook tragedy.
Before “60 Minutes,” he worked at CNN for 25 years and co-wrote the true crime book “Hunting Eric Rudolph” alongside Charles Stone.
Henry Schuster 60 Minutes CBS newsmagazine Bari Weiss Tanya Simon Cecilia Vega Sharyn Alfonsi Nick Bilton Scott Pelley LinkedIn media shakeup Scott Pelley firing employment buyout