Washington Post CEO Resigns Amid Major Lay-offs

Sun Feb 08 2026 22:58:50 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

William Lewis announces his departure following mass lay-offs at the Washington Post, raising concerns over the newspaper's future and financial health.

William Lewis, the Chief Executive of the Washington Post, has resigned just days after overseeing significant lay-offs within the company. His departure follows a decision to cut a third of the workforce, including entire sections such as the Middle East team. The announcement has drawn criticism from journalists and the public alike, with former executive editor Marty Baron labeling the cuts as one of the darkest days in the paper's history. Jeff D'Onofrio will step in as acting CEO while the paper faces scrutiny over its financial direction.

The chief executive of the Washington Post, William Lewis, is stepping down, as announced during a staff message. His resignation comes just days after the newspaper executed mass lay-offs that resulted in the loss of a third of its workforce.

In his communication to the staff, Lewis expressed that it was time for him to move on, stating that 'difficult decisions' had to be made to secure the future of the paper. The recent cuts, which included drastic reductions in coverage areas, notably sport and international news, have faced significant backlash from the journalistic community and public.

Executive editor Matt Murray justified the layoffs as necessary for achieving stability within the organization. The layoffs have raised broader concerns about the direction under the ownership of billionaire Jeff Bezos, who has faced intense criticism for these actions.

Jeff D'Onofrio, who previously served as the chief financial officer, has been appointed as acting publisher and CEO following Lewis's announcement. This change marks another chapter in a tumultuous period for the Washington Post, which has grappled with financial challenges and controversial editorial shifts since Bezos acquired it in 2013.

Lewis, who previously served as CEO of Dow Jones and publisher of the Wall Street Journal, took on the role at the Post in 2023, but his tenure has been marred by public dissatisfaction as he tried to navigate the newspaper through fiscal distress.

The mass lay-offs sparked protests outside the Washington headquarters of the Post, further igniting feelings of concern about the paper's long-term viability. Former executive editor Marty Baron described this period of cuts as 'one of the darkest days in the history of one of the world's greatest news organizations.'

Amid these developments, the Post has also shifted its editorial stance ahead of the 2024 US presidential election, forgoing its traditional endorsement process for candidates, leading to further subscriber loss and criticism regarding its editorial independence.