Washington Post publisher Will Lewis resigns days after mass layoffs
Lewis stepped down Saturday following the newspaper's decision to cut approximately one-third of its staff, or more than 300 journalists, earlier in the week.
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Will Lewis, publisher and chief executive of The Washington Post, announced his resignation Saturday, just three days after the newspaper laid off roughly one-third of its workforce.
In a message to staff, Lewis wrote that "after two years of transformation at The Washington Post, now is the right time for me to step aside." He stated that "during my tenure, difficult decisions had to be taken in order to ensure the sustainable future of The Post so it can for many years ahead publish high-quality nonpartisan news to millions of customers each day."
Lewis, a British media executive who previously worked at The Wall Street Journal, joined the Post in January 2024. His tenure was marked by controversy and turbulence. The newspaper announced the layoffs earlier in the week, cutting more than 300 positions from a staff of approximately 800 journalists. The reductions included the closure of entire teams covering areas such as sports and literature, with the company prioritizing coverage of politics and security.
The layoffs drew sharp criticism from current and former employees. Lewis did not attend the all-staff video call during which the cuts were announced. On Thursday, February 5, the day the layoffs were announced, Lewis was photographed at the NFL Honors in San Francisco, an absence that drew further criticism from staff members.
Marty Baron, the celebrated former editor of The Post, characterized the layoffs as among "the darkest days in the history of" the institution.
Jeff D'Onofrio, the Post's chief financial officer since June 2025, will assume the role of acting publisher and chief executive immediately. D'Onofrio previously served as chief executive of the social media platform Tumblr.
Lewis's departure follows years of financial losses at the newspaper. In October 2024, Post owner Jeff Bezos ordered the publication to withdraw its traditional editorial endorsement, which had been intended for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, rather than endorsing Donald Trump. The decision prompted subscriber losses and contributed to ongoing turbulence at the organization.
In his resignation statement, Lewis thanked Bezos "for his support and leadership throughout my tenure as CEO and Publisher," stating that "the institution could not have a better owner."