- Internal upheaval culminates in Lewis’s resignation
- Massive layoffs spark criticism and staff protests
- Jeff D’Onofrio steps in to stabilise the iconic newspaper
Will Lewis, the publisher and CEO of The Washington Post, abruptly resigned Saturday evening, ending a tumultuous two-year tenure just days after presiding over one of the largest newsroom staff reductions in the publication’s history.
His departure was announced in a brief, two-paragraph internal email to staff that lacked a subject line. In the note, Lewis characterised his time at the paper as “two years of transformation” and stated that “now is the right time for me to step aside.” He expressed gratitude toward the paper’s owner, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, but notably did not offer a farewell to the journalists he led.
The resignation follows a week of severe internal upheaval. On Wednesday, the Post announced it was laying off 300 employees, roughly one-third of its total workforce – though some reports over the weekend suggest that number was on the low side and the cuts may have affected nearly 45% of staff.
The cuts decimated the paper’s sports department, book coverage, and local and international bureaus, leaving the institution in a state of shock and a number of correspondents seeking a journey home from foreign postings, some in war zones such as Ukraine.
Lewis faced intense criticism for his handling of the layoffs. He was reportedly absent from the mandatory Zoom call where the job cuts were announced, a move that many staffers viewed as a failure of leadership. Tensions escalated further when Lewis was photographed on a red carpet at a Super Bowl-related event in San Francisco just 24 hours after the layoffs, a juxtaposition that many current and former employees described as “tone-deaf” and “insulting.”
Since joining the Post in early 2024 from the Murdoch-owned Dow Jones, Lewis struggled to find his footing. His tenure was marked by financial struggles, including annual losses nearing $100 million, and a public clash with former executive editor Sally Buzbee, who resigned in June 2024. Lewis also faced persistent questions regarding his past role at News UK (formerly News International) during a phone-hacking scandal, an issue he repeatedly declined to address.
The Washington Post Guild, the union representing the paper’s staff, celebrated the news of his exit, calling it “long overdue” and accusing Lewis of the “attempted destruction” of the institution.
Jeff Bezos, who has remained largely silent during the recent turmoil, released a statement following the resignation but did not mention Lewis by name. Instead, he praised the paper’s “essential journalistic mission” and named Chief Financial Officer Jeff D’Onofrio as the acting publisher and CEO. D’Onofrio, who joined the Post last June, will oversee the organisation as it attempts to stabilise under its new, significantly reduced footprint.
- https://apnews.com/article/c8559f5e1d9f4d73f37163e4a708f9da – This article reports on Will Lewis’s resignation as publisher of The Washington Post, following significant layoffs affecting approximately one-third of its staff, including the elimination of the sports section and closure of foreign bureaus.
- https://apnews.com/article/923f87d4bd319c8a64b278165d0a6e27 – This piece details the major restructuring at The Washington Post, including the layoffs of nearly 300 employees, the closure of the sports section, and the shuttering of international bureaus, leading to shock within the institution.
- https://www.axios.com/2026/02/06/washington-post-matt-murray-will-lewis-layoffs – In this interview, Executive Editor Matt Murray discusses the necessity of the layoffs to reset the organisation’s financial base and align with changing media demands, reflecting on the significant staff reductions.
- https://www.axios.com/2026/02/04/washington-post-layoffs – This article covers the announcement of major layoffs at The Washington Post, affecting several hundred employees, as part of a significant reorganisation aimed at securing the paper’s future amid ongoing financial challenges.
- https://www.axios.com/2026/02/05/washington-post-layoffs-bezos – This report highlights the significant staff cuts at The Washington Post, sparking widespread outrage within the organisation and the journalism community, and discusses the internal mismanagement and leadership errors contributing to the decline.
- https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/2/8/washington-post-ceo-resigns-after-sweeping-layoffs – This article details Will Lewis’s resignation as CEO of The Washington Post, acknowledging the ‘difficult decisions’ made during his tenure, and notes the appointment of Jeff D’Onofrio as the new acting publisher and CEO.
Register for Editor’s picks
Stay ahead of the curve with our Editor's picks newsletter – your weekly insight into the trends, challenges, and innovations driving the future of digital media.
