Crisis at The Washington Post: Publisher Will Lewis Resigns as Layoffs Strike

Mon Feb 09 2026 01:01:51 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a dramatic shift for the troubled Washington Post, publisher Will Lewis announces his resignation amid sweeping layoffs and a corporate restructuring. This follows unprecedented cuts that threaten the newspaper's core operations.

Will Lewis has resigned as publisher of The Washington Post just days after the newspaper announced it would lay off one-third of its staff, including the closure of its sports section and significant cuts across foreign and metro coverage. The decision comes as part of efforts to secure the newspaper's future amid declining subscriber numbers and controversial editorial decisions during his tenure.

In a significant turn of events, Will Lewis, the publisher of The Washington Post, announced his resignation on Saturday, just three days after the publication revealed plans to lay off one-third of its workforce. Lewis communicated this decision in an email to the staff, referencing difficult decisions taken to ensure the sustainable future of The Post. Notably, both Lewis and Jeff Bezos, the billionaire owner of the newspaper, opted out of attending a staff meeting where the layoffs were disclosed.

Following Lewis' departure, Jeff D’Onofrio, the current chief financial officer, has stepped in as acting publisher and CEO. D’Onofrio only joined the Post last June, with the previous publisher’s term marred by controversy, including a failed reorganization plan and the exit of former editor Sally Buzbee.

The Post has faced significant challenges over the past year, exemplified by the loss of tens of thousands of subscribers. This downturn was exacerbated by Bezos's controversial reversal of support for Kamala Harris' presidential campaign, further shifting the publication's editorial stance towards conservatism.

This week's layoffs were more substantial than many had anticipated, leading to the closure of the Post's respected sports section, as well as drastic reductions in foreign and metro news coverage. The cuts also included a significant downsizing of the newspaper's photographic staff, casting a shadow on the future of its rich visual storytelling.