Washington Post CEO Will Lewis Abruptly Resigns Amid Mass Layoffs

Washington Post publisher Will Lewis resigns reports that Will Lewis, who served as publisher and chief executive officer of The Washington Post since 2024, has resigned from his leadership role, a move that comes just days after the newspaper announced sweeping layoffs that eliminated roughly one-third of its newsroom staff. The resignation was confirmed on 7 February 2026 and has ignited significant debate over the direction of one of America’s most influential news organisations.

Lewis’s departure follows a particularly turbulent period at The Washington Post, marked by major cost-cutting measures including the dismissal of over 300 journalists and the closure of key sections such as books and sports, as well as sharp reductions in coverage areas. The layoffs were part of a broader restructuring strategy that Lewis and management argued was necessary to ensure the paper’s long-term sustainability amid declining subscriptions and financial pressures. However, the decisions drew intense backlash from staff, the union representing newsroom employees, and media industry observers.

Critics of Lewis’s tenure cited both the scale of the job cuts and his leadership style as points of contention. Staff union leaders described his exit as “long overdue,” arguing that morale and confidence in leadership had eroded over months of internal strife and controversial decisions. Some former editors and observers linked the turmoil to broader challenges facing the newspaper under owner Jeff Bezos, including loss of subscribers after certain editorial shifts and changing priorities.

In his resignation announcement, Lewis framed his departure as the right step for the institution’s future, expressing gratitude to Bezos and affirming a commitment to The Post’s mission. He did not, however, directly address staff reactions or the criticism surrounding the layoffs.

Following Lewis’s exit, the paper’s chief financial officer, Jeff D’Onofrio, has been appointed as acting CEO and publisher. D’Onofrio’s appointment comes as The Washington Post seeks to stabilise operations and chart a new course amidst shifting dynamics in the news industry.

The leadership change at The Washington Post underscores growing tensions within major media organisations as they grapple with economic pressures, evolving audience behaviour, and internal expectations about editorial direction and stability. Critics warn that recent events could have lasting effects on newsroom culture and the paper’s role in American journalism.

Reference –

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/02/07/media/washington-post-will-lewis-publisher-resigns

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8e5ee39j47o

https://www.npr.org/2026/02/07/nx-s1-5705413/washington-post-ceo-resigns-will-lewis

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/feb/07/washington-post-will-lewis-resigns