Washington Post Publisher and CEO Will Lewis announced his departure on Saturday, a development that comes just days after announcements of mass layoffs at the storied US newspaper.
In a message to staff, Lewis said that during his tenure “difficult decisions were made to ensure the Post’s sustainable future so that it can deliver high-quality, non-partisan news for millions of customers every day for many years to come.” The message was released by the newspaper’s White House bureau chief, Matt Wieser.
The paper’s chief financial officer, Jeff D’Onofrio, will assume the position of editor and managing director on an interim basis. The Washington Post is owned by, who acquired it in 2013.
Lewis, a former chief executive of Dow Jones & Company and publisher of the Wall Street Journal, had taken office in 2023, succeeding Fred Ryan, after a nine-year term.
Mass layoffs in all departments
The resignation of the publisher and CEO comes in the wake of the announcement of mass layoffs from all departments of the Washington Post, which has a history of more than 145 years.
The announcements were made by editor-in-chief Matt Murray, who informed staff that the cuts would affect international, editorial, local reporting and sports. The layoffs were announced just days after the newspaper decided to curtail its coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics, citing financial losses.
“For too long we’ve operated with a structure that was too tied to the era where we were kind of a local monopoly,” Murray said on a conference call with employees, part of which was leaked, adding that “we need a new way forward and a more solid foundation.”
A Post reporter, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, described the situation as a “bloodbath.” Journalists affected include Amazon reporter Caroline Donovan, Cairo bureau chief Claire Parker, and the paper’s entire Middle East correspondent and editor.
In a statement, the Washington Post said it was taking “a series of difficult but decisive actions for its future,” arguing that the moves are intended to strengthen its sustainability and better focus on journalism that engages its audience.
Murray clarified that “all departments are affected,” noting that political and government reporting will remain the paper’s mainstay, while the sports section, in its current form, will be closed. It is recalled that in 2023 the newspaper had offered voluntary exit packages amid losses of $100 million.
