Leadership Shakeup at The Washington Post Amid Major Layoffs

Sun Feb 08 2026 05:45:52 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The Washington Post's CEO, Will Lewis, resigns following significant workforce reductions, raising questions about the future of the newspaper amidst criticism from staff and the public.

Will Lewis, chief executive of The Washington Post, has announced his resignation just days after the publication implemented significant layoffs affecting a third of its workforce. The cuts, which included critical international and sports reporting staff, drew widespread backlash from employees and the public, leading to protests outside the newsroom. Lewis described his departure as necessary to ensure the paper's future amidst financial challenges, while concerns about the paper's direction under owner Jeff Bezos continue to surface.

The chief executive of the Washington Post is stepping down, the newspaper has announced, days after overseeing mass lay-offs.

Will Lewis said it was the right time to leave, stating in a message to staff that 'difficult decisions' had been made to ensure the paper's future.

On Wednesday, the newspaper announced it was cutting a third of its workforce, dramatically scaling back its coverage of sport and international news.

The decision was condemned by many journalists and drew criticism of the Post's billionaire owner, Jeff Bezos. Executive editor Matt Murray stated the cuts would bring 'stability.'

Jeff D'Onofrio, who joined as chief financial officer of the newspaper last year, will serve as acting publisher and CEO.

Lewis, a former Dow Jones chief executive and publisher of the Wall Street Journal, was appointed to the role at the Washington Post in 2023. He faced criticism from subscribers and employees as he tried to reverse financial losses at the daily.

Hundreds protested in front of the paper's headquarters in Washington DC following the mass layoffs, which impacted the paper's entire Middle East staff and its Kyiv-based Ukraine correspondent.

Marty Baron, the Post's executive editor until 2021, described the cuts as 'among the darkest days in the history of one of the world’s greatest news organisations.'

The departure of Lewis marks the latest upheaval for the leading US newspaper, which has experienced several staff cuts and controversial editorial decisions in recent years.

Shortly before the 2024 US presidential election, Bezos chose not to endorse a presidential candidate, breaking decades of tradition.

The Washington Post had endorsed a candidate in most presidential elections since the 1970s, all of whom had been Democrats, leading to widespread criticism and the loss of tens of thousands of subscribers.

Meanwhile, the opinion editor resigned in February last year as Bezos shifted the paper's comment section focus towards 'personal liberties and free markets.' Bezos asserted that opposing views would not be published.