Report: Howard Stern Cuts Staff, Show Schedule

RADIO ONLINE | Wednesday, July 15, 2026 | 11:34am CT

Howard Stern

Howard Stern has reportedly laid off about a dozen staff members as he prepares to reduce his SiriusXM schedule to one new show per week beginning after Labor Day.

According to a report by Page Six, staffers were notified during a Zoom meeting on Monday that the longtime host will scale back from his current schedule, with archived programming expected to fill much of the remaining airtime. Sources told the publication that Stern retained a core group of veteran producers but no longer requires as much new content. Employees affected by the layoffs were reportedly sent home immediately and will receive severance packages based on their years of service.

The reported changes come months after Stern signed a new three-year contract extension with SiriusXM in December. At the time, Stern said the agreement would allow him to have "more free time" while continuing his radio career.

"I am happy to announce that I have figured out a way to have it all," Stern said on his show following the renewal. "More free time and continuing to be on the radio."

His wife, Beth Stern, later told Andy Cohen on SiriusXM that the new arrangement was "working out really well," adding that continuing to host the show gives Stern an important creative outlet.

The latest report follows speculation last year about Stern's future with SiriusXM during contract negotiations. Those rumors ended when the broadcaster signed the extension, although financial terms were not disclosed. Page Six noted that Stern's previous five-year contract was reportedly valued at $500 million.

Neither Stern nor SiriusXM had publicly commented on the reported layoffs or programming changes at the time of publication.