Washington Post publisher Will Lewis steps down after layoffs

Lewis' departure comes three days after the newspaper announced it was cutting one-third of its staff.

Feb. 8, 2026 at 7:47pm

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Washington Post publisher Will Lewis announced he is stepping down, ending a troubled tenure at the newspaper just days after it said it was laying off one-third of its staff. Lewis' departure comes in the wake of widespread layoffs that resulted in the shutdown of the Post's sports section, the elimination of its photography staff, and sharp reductions in personnel responsible for coverage of metropolitan Washington and overseas.

Why it matters

The Washington Post, one of the most prestigious and influential news organizations in the United States, has faced significant challenges under Lewis' leadership, including talent defections, subscriber losses, and a reorientation of its opinion section in a more conservative direction. The latest round of layoffs has raised questions about the newspaper's future and the commitment of its billionaire owner, Jeff Bezos, to maintaining its journalistic mission.

The details

Lewis announced his departure in a two-paragraph email to the newspaper's staff, saying that after two years of transformation, 'now is the right time for me to step aside.' The Post's chief financial officer, Jeff D'Onofrio, was appointed temporary publisher. Neither Lewis nor Bezos participated in the meeting with staff members announcing the layoffs on Wednesday. The cutbacks were deeper than expected, resulting in the shutdown of the Post's renowned sports section, the elimination of its photography staff, and sharp reductions in personnel responsible for coverage of metropolitan Washington and overseas.

  • On Wednesday, the Washington Post announced it was laying off one-third of its staff.
  • On Saturday, Will Lewis announced he is stepping down as publisher of the Washington Post.

The players

Will Lewis

The former publisher of the Washington Post, whose tenure has been marked by layoffs and a failed reorganization plan that led to the departure of former top editor Sally Buzbee.

Jeff Bezos

The billionaire owner of the Washington Post, who has been criticized for his handling of the newspaper, including his order late in the 2024 presidential campaign to pull back from a planned endorsement of Kamala Harris and a subsequent reorienting of the Post's opinion section in a more conservative direction.

Jeff D'Onofrio

The Washington Post's chief financial officer, who was appointed temporary publisher following Lewis' departure.

Martin Baron

The Washington Post's first editor under Bezos, who condemned his former boss this week for attempting to curry favor with President Donald Trump and called what has happened at the newspaper 'a case study in near-instant, self-inflicted brand destruction.'

The Washington Post Guild

The union representing Washington Post staff members, which called Lewis' exit long overdue and said his 'legacy will be the attempted destruction of a great American journalism institution.'

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What they’re saying

“The institution could not have had a better owner.”

— Will Lewis, Former Publisher, Washington Post (eastidahonews.com)

“His legacy will be the attempted destruction of a great American journalism institution. But it's not too late to save The Post. Jeff Bezos must immediately rescind these layoffs or sell the paper to someone willing to invest in its future.”

— The Washington Post Guild, Union representing Washington Post staff (eastidahonews.com)

“The Post has an essential journalistic mission and an extraordinary opportunity. Each and every day, our readers give us a roadmap to success. The data tells us what is valuable and where to focus.”

— Jeff Bezos (eastidahonews.com)

“This is a challenging time across all media organizations, and The Post is unfortunately no exception. I've had the privilege of helping chart the course of disrupters and cultural stalwarts alike. All faced economic headwinds in changing industry landscapes, and we rose to meet those moments. I have no doubt we will do just that, together.”

— Jeff D'Onofrio, Temporary Publisher, Washington Post (eastidahonews.com)

What’s next

The Washington Post Guild has called on Jeff Bezos to either rescind the layoffs or sell the newspaper to someone willing to invest in its future.

The takeaway

The departure of Will Lewis as Washington Post publisher, coupled with the deep staff cuts at the newspaper, underscores the significant challenges facing the iconic news organization under the ownership of Jeff Bezos. The Post's future remains uncertain, raising questions about Bezos' commitment to maintaining its journalistic mission and the ability of the newspaper to weather the industry's economic headwinds.