Washington Post CEO Resigns Following Major Layoffs

Sun Feb 08 2026 16:52:27 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a sudden leadership change, the Washington Post's chief executive will step down shortly after the newspaper carried out significant staff cuts, igniting widespread criticism and protests.

Will Lewis, CEO of the Washington Post, is resigning after overseeing substantial layoffs that have dramatically affected the workforce and coverage of the newspaper. As the media landscape continues to shift, the decision has drawn backlash from both employees and the public, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by traditional news organizations.

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 shared online 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 prompted criticism of the Post's billionaire owner, Jeff Bezos. Executive editor Matt Murray stated that the cuts would bring stability.

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

Lewis, previously the chief executive at Dow Jones and publisher of the Wall Street Journal, took on the role at the Washington Post in 2023, following ongoing financial struggles.

The cuts, including the termination of the paper's entire Middle East staff and its Kyiv-based correspondent in Ukraine, have drawn heavy protests, with hundreds gathering at the newspaper's headquarters in Washington DC.

Marty Baron, the Post's former executive editor, lamented that the cuts represent the darkest days in the history of one of the world's greatest news organizations.

The resignation marks another upheaval at the leading U.S. newspaper, noted for its impactful reporting yet grappling with mounting challenges amid a changing media landscape.