Veteran journalist Scott Pelley has been fired from CBS's flagship news program, 60 Minutes, following a reported clash with the show's new leadership. The dismissal, confirmed Tuesday, has intensified turmoil at the influential program amid a recent overhaul.

Pelley, who spent 22 years with 60 Minutes, reportedly voiced strong criticism of the program's new executive producer, Nick Bilton, during a staff meeting on Monday. Bilton, a technology journalist and filmmaker, was appointed last week by Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss.

According to a report on the Status website, Pelley accused the new management of "murdering the show" and possessing "slender qualifications." In a termination notice, Bilton stated that Pelley had "hijacked" the meeting to "disparage" him with "remarkable incivility and contempt."

The firing raises questions about the future direction of 60 Minutes, a program long known for its in-depth investigative journalism. Pelley, in a statement, expressed concern that the show had lost its "DNA" under the new management and accused them of asking him to "inject falsehoods and bias" into his reporting.

Pelley's departure follows a series of other exits from the Sunday news magazine, the longest-running prime-time show in the United States. Last week, Bilton's predecessor, Tanya Simon, and correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega were also reportedly let go.

Alfonsi had previously drawn attention for criticizing Weiss's decision to postpone a segment concerning deportations to El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center, a move that occurred amidst intensified immigration policies. Pelley suggested in his statement that his dismissal was an attempt by the new network owner to "curry a moment of favor with the Trump administration."

The changes at 60 Minutes come after Skydance Media, led by David Ellison, acquired CBS owner Paramount in August. Ellison, whose father is Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison, a supporter of former President Donald Trump, had pledged that the CBS network would reflect "varied ideological perspectives" following the deal.

Questions remain about the specific editorial changes management intended to implement and the broader impact these leadership shifts will have on the long-standing journalistic integrity and programming of 60 Minutes.