On February 8, 2026, the storied halls of The Washington Post were rocked by the abrupt resignation of chief executive and publisher Will Lewis, just days after the paper had announced sweeping layoffs that would reshape its very identity. The move, which sent shockwaves through American journalism, capped off a turbulent week that left more than 300 journalists out of work and entire sections—like sports and books—erased from the publication’s pages.
Lewis’s exit, confirmed in a terse email to staff, was as sudden as it was dramatic. “After two years of transformation at The Washington Post, now is the right time for me to step aside. I want to thank Jeff Bezos for his support and leadership throughout my tenure as CEO and Publisher. The institution could not have a better owner,” Lewis wrote, according to Vanity Fair. He added, “During my tenure, difficult decisions have been taken in order to ensure the sustainable future of The Post so it can for many years ahead publish high-quality nonpartisan news to millions of customers each day.”
The resignation followed a series of bruising days for the paper. On February 4, 2026, The Washington Post announced it would cut roughly a third of its workforce—over 300 journalists—decimating its local, international, and sports coverage. The layoffs included the entire Middle East staff and the Kyiv-based Ukraine correspondent, as reported by The New York Times and BBC News. The sports section, a staple for generations of readers, was shuttered, and the books section vanished as well. The photo staff was eliminated. The scale and speed of the cuts stunned employees and observers alike, many of whom had anticipated reductions but not such a deep and immediate transformation.
In the aftermath, the newsroom was left reeling. Hundreds of staffers and supporters gathered outside the paper’s Washington, D.C. headquarters to protest the layoffs, their chants echoing down the streets. The Washington Post Guild, which represents many of the paper’s journalists, issued a scathing statement: “Will Lewis’s legacy will be the attempted destruction of a great American journalism institution. But it’s not too late to save The Post. Jeff Bezos must immediately rescind these layoffs or sell the paper to someone willing to invest in its future.”
Michelle Lee, one of the organizers of a GoFundMe campaign to support international staffers, wrote, “Among those laid off are reporters in war zones living without electricity, breaking news hub reporters and editors in Seoul and London who cover atrocities around the world every day, correspondents who upended their lives to move overseas just a few months ago, and indispensable local staff without whom our journalism would be impossible. They are a dedicated, talented, multilingual, brilliant bunch. They don't deserve this.” As of Sunday evening, the campaign had raised more than $180,000 of its $200,000 target, according to BBC News. A separate fund for U.S.-based staff had surpassed $500,000.
The move drew condemnation from across the journalism world. Marty Baron, the celebrated former editor of the Post, called the layoffs “among the darkest days in the history of one of the world’s greatest news organizations,” as reported by The New York Times. Baron was particularly critical of Lewis for not appearing on the Zoom call where the layoffs were announced. “On a decision of this sort, as dramatic as it is, the publisher should be on a call like that,” he told Vanity Fair. “He’s basically been an invisible publisher—not visible to people on the staff, not visible to the public, and not appearing on a Zoom when he’s announcing enormous cuts in the newsroom staff. To me, it’s part of the responsibility of a publisher to speak to the staff, particularly at moments like this one.”
Lewis, who had arrived at the Post in January 2024 amid already mounting financial pressures and a previous round of staff reductions, had promised an “extremely exciting way forward.” But as the financial challenges deepened, his tenure became defined by cuts and controversy, not growth and innovation. The layoffs were delivered to employees by executive editor Matt Murray via Zoom, while Lewis was reportedly seen at a pre-Super Bowl event in San Francisco, a juxtaposition that drew further outrage from staff and observers.
In the wake of Lewis’s departure, Jeff D’Onofrio, the Post’s chief financial officer, was named acting publisher and chief executive. D’Onofrio, who joined the paper in 2025, now faces the daunting task of stabilizing the newsroom and charting a new course forward. In a statement, owner Jeff Bezos praised Lewis’s tenure and looked ahead: “The Post has an essential journalistic mission and an extraordinary opportunity. Each and every day our readers give us a roadmap to success. The data tells us what is valuable and where to focus. Jeff, along with [executive editor Matt Murray] and [opinion editor Adam O'Neal], are positioned to lead The Post into an exciting and thriving next chapter.” Notably, Bezos’s statement did not mention the layoffs or the cost-cutting measures that prompted such widespread criticism.
This isn’t the first time The Washington Post has faced existential questions. Since its purchase by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in 2013, the paper has navigated a rapidly shifting media landscape, with digital disruption, declining print revenue, and fierce competition for online audiences. Lewis’s tenure, however, will likely be remembered for its abruptness and the sheer magnitude of the newsroom’s contraction. As reported by BBC News, the layoffs included not only high-profile correspondents but also indispensable local staff and international hires, some of whom now face sudden loss of housing, visas, and benefits.
The cuts came after years of financial losses, with Lewis and the leadership team seeking to reverse the paper’s fortunes. Yet, for many journalists, subscribers, and industry observers, the cost was too high. The paper’s role as a chronicler of local, national, and global events has been diminished, at least for now, and its ability to cover the world in all its complexity is in question.
The fallout has extended beyond the newsroom. Subscribers have voiced their displeasure, and tens of thousands reportedly canceled their subscriptions after prior editorial decisions. The loss of the sports section, in particular, struck a nerve with longtime readers, who saw it as an essential part of the paper’s identity. The elimination of the books section also raised concerns about the Post’s commitment to cultural coverage and intellectual discourse.
As the dust settles, one thing is clear: The Washington Post stands at a crossroads. The coming months will test the resilience of its remaining staff and the vision of its leadership. For now, the echoes of protest and the words of those laid off linger in the newsroom’s empty desks and silent corridors—a stark reminder of the difficult choices facing American journalism in the digital age.