Washington Post Owner Bezos Rejected Deal to Save Hundreds of Jobs

Proposed acquisition of sports and local desks by Washington City Paper owner Mark Ein was denied, leading to mass layoffs.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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According to a new report, Washington Post CEO Will Lewis was approached with an offer from Washington City Paper owner Mark Ein to buy the Post's sports and local desks following reports that the paper was contemplating their elimination. While Lewis was reportedly open to the deal, which would have kept journalists employed and ensured continued local coverage, the talks abruptly ended when the layoffs were announced, including the shuttering of both desks. The layoffs affected around 400 employees, particularly those on the international, local, sports and editing desks.

Why it matters

The decision to reject Ein's offer and proceed with the layoffs has faced substantial criticism, with former Post employees and owner Don Graham condemning the move as gutting an American institution vital for a healthy society. The layoffs have created a 'massive hole' in the Washington, D.C. community that needs to be filled.

The details

Recently-ousted Washington Post CEO Will Lewis was approached with an offer from Washington City Paper owner Mark Ein to buy the Post's sports and local desks following reports in late January that the paper was contemplating their elimination. While Lewis was reportedly open to this move, which would have kept journalists at those desks employed and ensured that residents of Washington D.C. continued to benefit from their work, sources said that talks abruptly ended when the layoffs were announced on Wednesday, including the shuttering of both desks in question.

  • In late January, reports surfaced that the Washington Post was contemplating eliminating its sports and local desks.
  • On Wednesday, the Washington Post announced layoffs affecting around 400 employees, including the shuttering of the sports and local desks.

The players

Will Lewis

Recently-ousted CEO of the Washington Post.

Mark Ein

Owner of the Washington City Paper and part owner of the Washington Commanders, who offered to buy the Post's sports and local desks.

Jeff Bezos

Owner of the Washington Post since purchasing it in 2013 for $250 million.

Don Graham

Former owner of the Washington Post, whose family owned the paper for eight decades.

Peter Baker

Veteran White House journalist and former Washington Post employee.

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What they’re saying

“There is now a massive hole in our community that needs to be filled. I'm on it!”

— Mark Ein, Owner, Washington City Paper (The Verge)

“No struggling newspaper ever saved itself by becoming a worse and less essential product. But what's happening today at the @washingtonpost is not just the latest devastating contraction of the news industry; it's the gutting of an American institution vital for a healthy society.”

— Peter Baker, Veteran White House journalist (X)

“It's a bad day. I am sad that so many excellent reporters and editors—and old friends—are losing their jobs. My first concern is for them; I will do anything I can to help.”

— Don Graham, Former owner, Washington Post (Facebook)

What’s next

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The takeaway

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