Anderson Cooper, a fixture on CBS's 60 Minutes for nearly two decades, is stepping down from his correspondent role. The announcement, made on February 17, 2026, confirms Cooper's decision to leave the esteemed newsmagazine at the end of its current season, expected in May 2026.

Cooper, 58, stated his primary reason for the departure is to dedicate more time to his two young sons, Wyatt Morgan Cooper, 5, and Sebastian Luke Maisani-Cooper, 4, whom he co-parents with Benjamin Maisani. “For nearly twenty years, I've been able to balance my jobs at CNN and CBS, but I have little kids now and I want to spend as much time with them as possible, while they want to spend time with me,” Cooper said in a statement. He will continue his anchoring duties at CNN, including his prime-time show Anderson Cooper 360 and the network's New Year's Eve special.

His tenure at 60 Minutes began in the 2006-2007 television season, a unique arrangement that allowed him to work for both CBS News and CNN. CBS News expressed gratitude for his contributions, saying, “We're grateful to him for dedicating so much of his life to this broadcast, and understand the importance of spending more time with family. '60 Minutes' will be here if he ever wants to return.” Cooper's exit also comes amidst a period of significant changes and reported turmoil at CBS News under the new editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss, appointed in October 2025.