Sharyn Alfonsi, Cecilia Vega back Scott Pelley after '60 Minutes' firing

Scott Pelley's former "60 Minutes" colleagues are rallying around the veteran journalist after he became the latest cut in a spree of firings at the legendary TV news program.

CBS News terminated Pelley after more than two decades at "60 Minutes," USA TODAY confirmed on June 2.

Newly hired "60 Minutes" executive Nick Bilton wrote to Pelley in a termination note obtained by USA TODAY that he was hoping they could pave a "path forward together" following the "misconduct" but said, "You made it clear that you are not interested in such a path."

It came a day after he reportedly slammed network executives during a meeting, and less than a week after a staffing shakeup that included two other longtime correspondents' exits.

Sharyn Alfonsi left the show after her contract expired over Memorial Day weekend, citing an editorial dispute over a story on a notorious El Salvador prison in a statement shared on her Substack.

Cecilia Vega said she was fired on May 28, arguing in a statement on Instagram that she and producers had "experienced efforts to insert political bias" into stories.

Now, after Pelley's firing, both Alfonsi and Vega have spoken out in support of their former colleague.

Scott Pelley says '60 Minutes' leadership is 'no longer recognizable'

Pelley addressed his firing in a statement on Instagram early June 3, writing in part that "there has never been anything in America like 60 Minutes."

"Now, the new owner of our network is casting this legend aside, apparently to curry a moment of favor with the Trump administration," he said. "The waste is heartbreaking."

USA TODAY has reached out to CBS for comment.

He added that the program "lost its DNA" after the firings last month. Pelley also alleged that management pushed him to include "falsehoods and bias" in stories which he said he managed to ignore.

Pelley continued: "I am deeply moved by the thousands of wishes we have received to 'keep up the good fight.' Most of the men and women of CBS News are still in that fight. But now the collapse of values at the top has become untenable. The leadership of 60 Minutes is no longer recognizable. The principles I hold dear are gone, and so I must leave as well."

CBS executive says Scott Pelley displayed 'hostility'

Bilton said in his letter that Pelley "hijacked my first meeting with staff to disparage me, my qualifications, and my intentions with remarkable incivility and contempt."

"Yesterday’s performative display of hostility — enacted in front of the staff instead of in a civil, private conversation — demonstrated that you have no interest in contributing to the future success of the show," he wrote.

While Bilton said he is open to a "diversity of viewpoints and respectful debates" among the show's staff, he said Pelley's "antipathy" toward the show's future is clear.

"I am here to deliver first-in-class news programming, not to make headlines about newsroom drama. I am eager to work alongside those who share this goal," Bilton added.

Sharyn Alfonsi says Scott Pelley 'was fired for asking questions'

On her Instagram, Alfonsi said in a statement that Pelley "was fired for asking questions, which is the job."

"If you need one sentence that tells you exactly what CBS News has become under Bari Weiss, that's it," she wrote. "Journalists who ask questions are being systematically replaced by people who won't – and that's not a side effect of what's happening at 60 Minutes. It's the goal."

She continued: "They fired the best of us, and anyone still wondering whether 60 Minutes is over can stop wondering. What's left will carry the name, without the spine or courage that made it matter."

On June 1, before Pelley's firing, Alfonsi also shared a photo of her and Pelley from their time as coworkers.

"'Insubordinate' and 'Rude' at the @dupont_awards a few years ago," Alfonsi captioned the picture.

Cecilia Vega to Scott Pelley: 'We all thank you'

Vega shared Pelley's statement on her own Instagram story on June 3, cosigning many of his sentiments.

"Same Scott. Same," she wrote in response to Pelley saying "60 Minutes" new management had told him to "include assertions that are unverified" in his reporting.

She also concurred with Pelley's account that "incompetence and unprofessionalism in the new management have wreaked havoc."

"What he said," the 49-year-old wrote.

On June 2, Vega reshared a picture of her and Pelley she posted in 2024, which was at the time captioned, "Just two reporters who still pinch themselves about where they get to work."

Vega said it was "what now feels like a lifetime ago," adding, "Scott, we all thank you."

Contributing: Anthony Robledo

Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. Keep up with her on X @melinakh and Instagram @bymelinakhan.