Mary Hager to Leave CBS News in January

Mary Hager plans to retire from CBS News in January, ending a 35-year career at the network. She told colleagues of her decision on November 11, giving CBS time to look for a replacement for her role at Face the Nation. No successor has been identified.

Hager is the program’s senior executive producer and the network’s chief politics editor. She led Face the Nation as executive producer from 2011 to 2025, overseeing the program during the tenures of moderators Bob Schieffer, John Dickerson and Margaret Brennan. She previously produced Schieffer when he was the network’s chief Washington correspondent.

Hager joined CBS in 1991 as a researcher in its political unit. Her departure comes amid buyouts at Paramount and Warner Bros. aimed at reducing costs. Another change at Face the Nation is planned: executive producer Anne Hsu is moving to CBS News’ Hong Kong bureau.