The Washington Post—owned by billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos—is expected to announce significant layoffs this week, particularly affecting its business division. Several dozen positions will likely be cut in the organization led by publisher and CEO Will Lewis.
The anticipated layoffs follow a period of significant staff turnover at the newspaper, which has seen several high-profile departures recently. Notably, Josh Dawsey is leaving for a role at The Wall Street Journal. He joins other former staffers such as Matea Gold, Ashley Parker, Michael Scherer, Charles Lane, Tyler Pager, and Amanda Katz, who have also exited the publication.
The changes are likely to further affect the newspaper’s flagging morale. In November 2023, The Washington Post saw over 100 employees depart through layoffs and buyouts as it struggled to retain readership. In the hopes of broadening the newspaper’s appeal beyond its currently far-left readership, Bezos prevented its editorial board from endorsing Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential election. However, the move resulted in a loss of over 250,000 subscribers.
The 2023 layoffs were followed by an employee strike, which saw reporters and staff walk out over a 24-hour period, demanding higher pay and expanded remote work options.
The Washington Post isn’t the only corporate media outlet struggling after President-elect Donald J. Trump’s landslide election victory. Both CNN and MSNBC have seen their television ratings crater since the November election, prompting executives to push for on-air talent salary cuts and staff reductions.
In mid-December, Gloria Borger—a nearly two-decade veteran of CNN—left the network. Meanwhile, MSNBC hosts Joy Reid and Stephanie Ruhle were forced to take pay reductions to stay on air.
