Scott Pelley’s departure from 60 Minutes has left the roster intact, with longtime correspondents saying they will stay on despite recent firings and upheaval at CBS News.

Scott Pelley was removed from 60 Minutes after a confrontation with the program’s new leadership, a change that set off whispers about a broader shakeup. The drama centered on clashes between Pelley and new hires brought in to reshape the newsmagazine. For now, the most prominent correspondents have chosen to remain, signaling that the fallout may be contained to a few high-profile exits.

The situation started when several senior staffers were let go, including two producers who colleagues described as strong leaders. That prompted a memo from Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker and Jon Wertheim saying they had debated whether to leave but ultimately would stay. Their decision came after Scott Pelley challenged the new executive producer and was subsequently dismissed, leaving others to weigh the future of the show.

“60 Minutes” correspondents Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker and Jon Wertheim said Friday that they planned to stay on at the newsmagazine, capping days of turmoil for the show.

“We have had a hard time deciding whether to stay,” the three wrote in a memo to their colleagues at the program, but ultimately added: “We don’t want to see ‘60 Minutes’ die.”

They wrote that they were still “deeply upset by the firings” of executive producer Tanya Simon and high-ranking producer Draggan Mihailovich, whom they called “strong leaders who everyone respected.” Their colleague Scott Pelley was fired earlier this week after he challenged the newsmagazine’s new executive producer over the recent firings.

The longtime correspondents said that “as far as we can tell,” those leaders were fired because “they fought for our ‘60 Minutes’ values and stood up to protect our independence and integrity.”

“Newsrooms are not supposed to be run like dictatorships,” they added in the memo, obtained by NBC News.

The statement is the latest beat in the turmoil engulfing “60 Minutes,” America’s top-rated and most prestigious newsmagazine, which just ended its 58th season

The upheaval started last week, when several key senior staff members were let go.

The memo from Stahl, Whitaker and Wertheim read like a plea to preserve the program’s independence, and it highlighted how fragile newsroom morale can be after abrupt executive moves. Staff departures at that level rarely go unnoticed, especially on a show with a long tradition and a powerful brand. Viewers and industry insiders alike are watching to see if the remaining talent can stabilize the operation.

People in and around the network say Pelley’s exit was the most visible casualty. He had a long run at broadcast news and a name recognition that outstripped many of his peers, but the conflict with the new leadership proved decisive. When producers and executives clash over editorial control, the outcome often reflects where power now rests, and in this case management made a firm choice.

The remaining correspondents framed their decision to stay as an act of preservation: they want the show to continue and to retain its journalistic standards. That stance carries weight because it comes from journalists who have invested decades into building audience trust. If they can weather this moment, the program may avoid an extended exodus and the kind of identity crisis that follows mass departures.

Management has signaled a desire to refresh the program, bringing in new voices and a new approach to editorial oversight. Change has its defenders, but when it involves abrupt firings of respected staff, it looks like consolidation of authority more than a gentle course correction. The resulting tensions are what produced the memo and the public attention that followed.

Outside the memo, reactions have been mixed: some see this as a necessary reboot, while others view it as a power play that risks alienating veteran talent. The correspondents’ choice to stay suggests loyalty to the brand and a willingness to fight for the newsroom’s core values from within. Whatever happens next, viewers will judge the show by the strength of its reporting and the credibility of the people still on the air.