Washington Post says one-third of its staff across all departments is being laid off

The Washington Post announced sweeping layoffs on Wednesday, cutting one-third of its staff across the newsroom and other departments in a dramatic restructuring of one of America’s most prestigious news organizations.

Executive editor Matt Murray delivered the news to employees during a Zoom meeting, detailing cuts that include the elimination of the newspaper’s entire sports department and a significant reduction in overseas correspondents. The Post, owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is also closing its books department, restructuring local Washington-area coverage and editing staff, and suspending its popular “Post Reports” podcast.

Employees received emails with one of two subject lines, bluntly informing them whether their position had been eliminated or spared. A Post representative confirmed the one-third reduction but declined to specify the total number of employees affected.

“The Washington Post is taking a number of difficult but decisive actions today for our future, in what amounts to a significant restructuring across the company,” a Post spokesperson said in a statement. “These steps are designed to strengthen our footing and sharpen our focus on delivering the distinctive journalism that sets The Post apart.”

The cuts represent a stunning reversal for an institution that gained legendary status for its Watergate reporting that helped bring down the Nixon presidency and, more recently, for its aggressive coverage of the Trump administration. The Post has long been considered a pillar of American journalism alongside The New York Times.

Industry observers note that these layoffs reflect broader challenges facing legacy media organizations as they struggle to adapt to digital transformation and changing consumer habits. The Post, while privately held and not required to disclose subscriber numbers, is believed to have approximately 2 million subscribers – a figure that has reportedly been declining.

The move follows weeks of rumors about impending cuts. Earlier, the Post had informed its sports journalists they would not be covering the upcoming Winter Olympics in Italy, a decision that was partially reversed after public backlash, with the newspaper announcing it would send a limited team instead.

The contrast with its longtime rival, The New York Times, is stark. While the Post cuts staff, the Times has doubled its workforce over the past decade and found success diversifying its revenue streams through products like its Games section and Wirecutter product recommendation service.

Some media analysts attribute the Post’s struggles partly to strategic decisions made under Bezos’s ownership. The newspaper faced criticism for declining to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election against Donald Trump, breaking with its tradition of Democratic endorsements. Reports have also suggested Bezos directed a more conservative shift in the newspaper’s opinion pages, potentially alienating core readers.

In the weeks leading up to the layoffs, Post employees made public appeals directly to Bezos, whose personal fortune exceeds $200 billion. The Washington Post Guild, which represents staff members, mounted a campaign with the message: “Enough is enough. Without the staff of The Washington Post, there is no Washington Post.”

The cuts come amid a turbulent period for American journalism. In recent years, newspapers across the country have faced declining advertising revenue, shifting readership habits, and competition from social media platforms. According to the Pew Research Center, newspaper newsroom employment has fallen by more than 50% since 2008.

For the remaining Post staff, Murray acknowledged the cuts would be “a shock to the system” but insisted the restructuring was necessary to create “a Post that can grow and thrive again.” However, media critics question whether cutting journalistic resources will help the newspaper compete in an increasingly challenging media landscape.