The pending Paramount acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery is reportedly triggering anxiety inside CNN, where employees have expressed concern that the change in ownership could alter the network’s editorial direction and bring substantial layoffs.

Paramount cleared a major obstacle to completing the deal Monday after reaching an agreement with 12 state attorneys general. Once completed, the merger will place CNN and CBS News under the same corporate umbrella while combining Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., HBO Max and Paramount+ into one media giant.

Much of the reported concern at CNN centers on Paramount CEO David Ellison and his ties to President Donald Trump. Ellison's father, Larry Ellison, has also been a major Trump donor. Some CNN employees previously voiced concern that those connections could result in pressure for the network to move away from its established liberal-leaning editorial culture.

That anxiety reportedly surfaced inside CNN as early as June, when employees turned executive Amy Entelis' office into a makeshift therapist's couch while discussing their fears about the proposed merger.

The latest reports indicate those concerns have intensified as the transaction moves closer to completion. One CNN employee described the mood as extremely tense, while a television executive predicted that significant cuts were coming, including at CNN.

The financial restructuring could make those fears about job security more immediate. Paramount has projected at least $6 billion in cost savings from the acquisition, potentially resulting in several thousand job losses as the combined company eliminates overlapping positions and operations.

CNN's history adds another dimension to the transition. Founded in 1980 by Ted Turner and Reese Schonfeld, the network helped establish the modern 24-hour cable news model and became one of the most prominent news organizations in the country. Its new ownership structure could now bring changes to both its business operations and editorial environment.

CNN CEO Mark Thompson is scheduled to hold a town hall with employees Wednesday as workers await more information about the merger and what Paramount's ownership will mean for the network.

The takeover therefore represents more than a corporate change for CNN employees who have expressed concern about the ideological direction of the network. It could also force the outlet to confront whether its existing editorial culture will remain intact under new leadership.