Washington Post Sheds Half Its Staffers in Recent Years

Newsroom down from 1,000 to just 400 journalists, according to executive editor Matt Murray.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The Washington Post has undergone multiple rounds of layoffs and voluntary buyouts in recent years, resulting in the news organization shedding roughly half of its total staffers. According to Post executive editor Matt Murray, the newsroom headcount has dropped from around 1,000 journalists in 2022 to just 400 currently.

Why it matters

The significant downsizing at the Washington Post, one of the country's most prominent and respected news outlets, reflects the broader challenges facing the media industry as it navigates the digital transformation. The loss of so many journalists raises concerns about the Post's ability to maintain its high-quality reporting and in-depth coverage across a wide range of topics.

The details

In October 2023, the Post reported it had employed "about 2,500 people across the entire company." However, Murray recently told staffers that the total number of Post employees is now around 1,300, a reduction of roughly 50%. The newsroom has been hit even harder, with the number of journalists dropping from 1,000 in 2022 to just 400 currently. Murray acknowledged that morale has been a challenge at the Post for some time, and he said the recent layoffs were a "painful exercise" as the organization looks to reinvent itself for the future.

  • In October 2023, the Post reported it had employed "about 2,500 people across the entire company."
  • In 2022, the Post newsroom reportedly had 1,000 journalists.
  • On February 12, 2026, Post executive editor Matt Murray said the newsroom now has 400 journalists.

The players

Matt Murray

The executive editor of The Washington Post.

Jeff Bezos

The billionaire owner of The Washington Post, who has faced criticism for his perceived lack of interest in saving the paper he bought more than a decade ago.

Will Lewis

The former CEO and publisher of The Washington Post, who abruptly resigned on Saturday amid the backlash following the mass layoffs.

Jeff D'Onofrio

The chief financial officer of The Washington Post, who is now serving as the acting CEO and publisher.

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What they’re saying

“We want to be in a different period [after] this painful exercise, and that's a period of collaboration, growth, innovation and reinventing the place for the future.”

— Matt Murray, Executive Editor (Fox News)

“Morale has been a challenge at the Post for a while.”

— Matt Murray, Executive Editor (Fox News)

What’s next

The Washington Post's new acting CEO and publisher, Jeff D'Onofrio, will be tasked with leading the organization through this challenging period and guiding its efforts to reinvent itself for the future.

The takeaway

The significant downsizing at the Washington Post underscores the broader struggles facing the media industry as it navigates the digital transformation. The loss of so many journalists raises concerns about the Post's ability to maintain its high-quality reporting, but the organization is committed to reinventing itself and finding new ways to serve its readers in the years ahead.