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Thursday, March 26, 2026

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2 hours ago
War

Iran Imposes ‘Toll Booth’ Regime on Oil Tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Iran is imposing restrictions on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, requiring documentation and clearance codes while proposing formal legislation to charge tolls.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iranian lawmakers, shipping companies, and maritime authorities.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Strait of Hormuz, ongoing since March 2026, with legislative actions currently under review.

💬KEY QUOTE: “We provide its security, and it is natural that ships and oil tankers should pay such fees.” – Iranian lawmaker Mohammadreza Rezaei Kouchi

🎯IMPACT: The move raises legal risks for shipping companies and could face opposition from Gulf Arab states and Western allies, challenging the strait’s status as an international waterway.

IN FULL

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is imposing a quasi-toll system on vessels seeking to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Ships are required to provide documentation, obtain clearance codes—apparently for a fee—and then receive an “escort” through the critical waterway.

The escort appears to imply that the Strait of Hormuz is, in fact, mined, though no ships that passed through without an IRGC escort have suffered mine damage. So far, ships have only been hit by anti-ship missiles and suicide drones. Still, elements of the Islamic Republic’s government, including its parliament, are pushing for the legal formalization of toll collection for ships moving through the strait.

“We provide its security, and it is natural that ships and oil tankers should pay such fees,” said Iranian lawmaker Mohammadreza Rezaei Kouchi. Despite the imposition of the toll system, it appears only two ships—according to shipping journal Lloyd’s List—have actually paid the fee, which was collected in Chinese yuan. Still, most ships currently transiting the Strait of Hormuz are doing so under diplomatic pressure and not by paying Iranian fees.

Notably, just as Iran is attempting to impose the tolls, Israel announced it has successfully eliminated the naval commander of the IRGC. Alireza Tangsiri, widely believed to be the IRGC figure tasked with mining the Strait of Hormuz, was reportedly killed on Wednesday alongside other Iranian navy officials in an Israeli airstrike.

Legal experts warn that engaging with the Iranian system poses significant risks, as the IRGC is designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) by the United States and the European Union. Payments to the IRGC could expose companies to criminal prosecution under anti-terrorism statutes.

The Strait of Hormuz is considered an international waterway, and any move to formalize tolls could provoke strong opposition from Gulf Arab states and their Western allies.

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34 minutes ago
Immigration

New Report Warns ‘No-Go Zones’ Fueled by Mass Migration, Islamization, and State Weakness Are Spreading.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A new report highlights the spread of “no-go zones” across the European Union (EU), linked to mass immigration and Islamization.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) Charlie Weimers, Marion Maréchal, and Nicola Procaccini presented the report; The National Pulse Editor-in-Chief, Raheem Kassam, has been warning against “no-go zones” for many years.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The report was presented on Wednesday in Europe.

💬KEY QUOTE: “A wake-up call on the failures of uncontrolled immigration.” – Nicola Procaccini

🎯IMPACT: Broad demographic changes and weakening state control are fracturing European societies.

IN FULL

A new report, presented by conservative Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), is raising alarms over the growing number of “no-go zones” across the European Union (EU). It points to mass migration, growing Islamization, and the erosion of state authority in cities as the main drivers of the trend.

Unveiled by Sweden Democrats MEP Charlie Weimers, French nationalist MEP Marion Maréchal, and Brothers of Italy MEP Nicola Procaccini, the study contends that “parallel societies” are taking root in many parts of Europe. These areas, the report says, are ruled by codes of radicalization and violence instead of national laws.

Marion Maréchal noted that France is home to many such areas, stating, “Our study demonstrates that no-go zones develop according to two factors: immigration and Islamization—63 percent of Islamist terrorists are linked to these areas.”

The report employs a scoring system that weighs factors such as crime and violence, the existence of parallel societies, and evidence of state withdrawal. It examined 17 neighborhoods in seven EU countries, giving France’s Franc Moisin district the worst score. Other prominent examples cited include La Castellane in Marseilles, France, and Molenbeek in Brussels, Belgium. The findings reveal a clear link between no-go zones and elevated shares of foreign-born and Muslim residents, with the average Muslim population in these districts far above the EU-wide figure.

Raheem Kassam, Editor-in-Chief of The National Pulse, has been warning against the emergence of parallel societies in Europe and the United States for years, releasing his book No Go Zones: How Sharia Law Is Coming to a Neighborhood Near You in 2017.

While more commonly associated with Europe, no-go zones are increasingly evident in the United States. Police in Dearborn, Michigan, now have Arabic patches, and the city’s Muslim mayor, Abdullah H. Hammoud, warned a Christian resident he was “not welcome” in the city last year when he expressed opposition to street signs honoring an Arab publisher accused of supporting terror.

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1 hour ago
Economy
World

European Union Politicians Approve Long-Delayed Trump Trade Deal.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: European Union (EU) politicians approved a major trade deal with the United States, overcoming months of delays.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, the European Parliament, and American negotiators.

📍WHEN & WHERE: March 26, 2026, at the European Parliament.

🎯IMPACT: The deal is expected to pass through remaining negotiations and approvals, strengthening U.S.-EU trade ties.

IN FULL

The European Parliament has approved key elements of a trade agreement between the United States and the European Union (EU). Notably, the move ends a months-long delay in adopting the frameworks after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down tariffs imposed by President Donald J. Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) voted 417 to 154 to advance the measure, with 71 abstentions. The movement on the trade deal comes on the heels of President Trump reimposing a global ten percent tariff through other trade laws outside of IEEPA authorities—effectively circumventing the Supreme Court ruling.

The deal includes the EU eliminating tariffs on American industrial goods and certain agricultural products. Still, lawmakers amended the legislation to include provisions that would allow it to be reversed if the Trump administration imposes new tariffs on the EU.

American negotiators have been pushing for weeks to adopt the framework, warning that the pause could risk the favorable pricing the EU receives for liquid natural gas (LNG) imports. Notably, the agreement maintains the United States’s 15 percent tariff rate on a number of EU products, and a 50 percent tariff rate on steel and aluminum.

Image © European Union 2017 – European Parliament.

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2 hours ago
War

U.S. ‘Needs Nothing From NATO,’ Which Has Done ‘Absolutely Nothing’ to Help With Iran: Trump.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump criticized NATO for doing “absolutely nothing” to assist with Iran.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Donald Trump, NATO member states, and Iran.

📍WHEN & WHERE: March 26, 2026, on Truth Social.

💬KEY QUOTE: “NEEDS NOTHING FROM NATO, but ‘never forget’ this very important point in time!” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: There are discussions among NATO countries about forming a coalition to secure the Hormuz Strait.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump has renewed his criticism of the NATO alliance, criticizing its members for having failed to take any meaningful steps to help the U.S. with Iran. He said, “NATO NATIONS HAVE DONE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO HELP WITH THE LUNATIC NATION, NOW MILITARILY DECIMATED, OF IRAN.”

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote, “THE U.S.A. NEEDS NOTHING FROM NATO, BUT ‘NEVER FORGET’ THIS VERY IMPORTANT POINT IN TIME!” These latest remarks continue Trump’s long-standing critique of the alliance during the conflict. He previously stressed that “Without the USA, NATO IS A PAPER TIGER!”

Some NATO members—including the United Kingdom and France—are reportedly considering leading a “Hormuz coalition” aimed at protecting shipping in the critical Strait of Hormuz, which carries much of the world’s oil and fertilizer supplies. The Iranians have largely closed the strait, imposing a “toll booth” regime for select allies.

Other alliance countries have adopted a more combative stance towards the Trump administration, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stating through a spokesman that the Iran war has “nothing to do with NATO” and is “not NATO’s war.”

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, despite tentative moves towards assisting in Hormuz, has also been reluctant to get involved, with Trump complaining that he “really did not want” to send ships when requested. However, Starmer’s position largely reflects that of the British public, who are overwhelmingly opposed to British actions that are not “purely defensive,” such as shooting down Iranian drones.

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By Popular Demand.
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3 hours ago
Immigration

Trump Crackdown Has Drastically Reduced Immigrant Numbers in Border Towns.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. population growth slowed significantly in 2025, with steep declines in metro areas along the southern border as immigration fell.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The U.S. Census Bureau, President Donald Trump, and demographers, including Helen You and Kenneth Johnson.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Data covers the one-year period ending July 2025, with key impacts in U.S. metro areas, including Laredo, Texas; Yuma, Arizona; and El Centro, California.

💬KEY QUOTE: “After four years in which millions and millions of illegal aliens poured across our borders totally unfettered and unchecked, we now have the strongest and most secure border in American history, by far.” – President Donald J. Trump

🎯IMPACT: Immigration declines have reshaped population trends, with border regions and major metro areas experiencing sharp drops.

IN FULL

New Census Bureau figures show a marked slowdown in overall U.S. population growth for the 12-month period that ended in July 2025. Metropolitan areas along the U.S.-Mexico border recorded some of the largest drops, driven by a steep fall in immigration after border policies were tightened at the start of President Donald J. Trump’s second term.

Laredo, Texas, saw its annual growth rate collapse from 3.2 percent to just 0.2 percent. Yuma, Arizona, fell from 3.3 percent to 1.4 percent, while El Centro, California, swung from 1.2 percent growth to a 0.7 percent loss. Major hubs for immigrants—including Miami-Dade County, Harris County in Texas, and Los Angeles County—also registered sharp reductions in immigration inflows, adding to the nationwide pattern.

“That pattern suggests a sharper rise-and-fall effect in border regions, where international migration plays a more central role in year-to-year population change,” said Helen You, interim director of the Texas Demographic Center. The Census Bureau reported that nine out of ten U.S. counties received fewer immigrants than in the previous year.

President Trump previously drew attention to these shifts in his State of the Union Address, stating, “In the past nine months, zero illegal aliens have been admitted to the United States. But we will always allow people to come in legally, people that will love our country and will work hard to maintain our country.”

Although border metros lost momentum, solidly Republican states such as Texas and Florida still posted the strongest overall population increases nationwide. At the same time, natural disasters—Hurricanes Helene and Milton—drove population losses in counties along Florida’s Gulf Coast and in parts of North Carolina.

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By Popular Demand.
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17 hours ago
Immigration

Bondi’s DOJ Now Calls Immigration Court Arrests a ‘Regrettable Error.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A federal prosecutor suggested U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should not be arresting migrants at immigration court, and that a previous memo saying they could be was a “regrettable error.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton, ICE officials, immigration advocacy groups, and former New York City comptroller Brad Lander (D)

📍WHEN & WHERE: The issue spans over the last year, with recent developments in Manhattan and other U.S. immigration courts.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Based on our discussions with ICE today, this regrettable error appears to have occurred because of agency attorney error,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.

🎯IMPACT: The revelation has sparked calls for congressional investigations and raised questions about due process violations in immigration court arrests.

IN FULL

A Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutor in Manhattan says that his office’s backing of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) policy memo authorizing arrests of migrants at immigration court was a “regrettable error.” In a letter to a federal judge, U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said ICE’s legal team had “specifically informed” his office that arrests in immigration court were exempt from guidance against courtroom arrests, but that this was mistaken.

Last May, ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons stated that “ICE officers and agents should generally avoid enforcement actions in or near courthouses, or areas within courthouses that are wholly dedicated to non-criminal proceedings (e.g., family court, small claims court).” However, ICE Assistant Director of Field Operations Liana Castano released a memo stating that this arrest policy “does not apply” to immigration courts.

“Based on our discussions with ICE today, this regrettable error appears to have occurred because of agency attorney error,” Clayton said of the memo.

Former New York City comptroller Brad Lander (D)—himself arrested by ICE agents inside Manhattan’s immigration court—called the news a “bombshell” and called on Congress to investigate. “All courthouse arrests should cease immediately,” Lander demanded.

In the past year alone, ICE agents have arrested thousands of immigrants right outside courtrooms, frequently moments after their court-ordered hearings ended. Immigration courts, which fall under the Department of Justice (DOJ), have become a particular battleground for lawsuits challenging ICE’s enforcement methods.

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By Popular Demand.
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18 hours ago
News

Apple Update Imposes ID Checks on Every UK iPhone User.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Apple’s iOS 26.4 update has introduced mandatory age verification for all British iPhone users, requiring proof of being 18 or older to access certain features and services.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Apple, British communications regulator Ofcom, and the British government, under the framework of the Online Safety Act.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The update was released on March 24, 2023, and affects an estimated 35 million iPhone users in the United Kingdom.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Apple’s decision that the UK will be one of the first countries in the world to receive new child safety protections on devices is a real win for children and families,” Ofcom claims.

🎯IMPACT: Users must link a credit card, scan a government-issued ID, or face restricted access, with Apple’s Web Content Filter and Communication Safety features automatically activated for accounts failing verification.

IN FULL

On March 24, Apple rolled out iOS 26.4 and introduced mandatory age verification for every iPhone user in the United Kingdom. The update requires account holders to confirm they are at least 18 before they can use certain features and services.

Verification can be completed by linking a credit card, scanning a government-issued ID, or having an account history that automatically qualifies the user as an adult. Anyone who does not verify is subject to Apple’s Web Content Filter and Communication Safety features, which block certain websites and scan communications for explicit material.

Ofcom, the British communications regulator, welcomed the step, calling it “a real win for children and families.” The agency said it had collaborated closely with Apple and other services to roll out age-assurance measures required by the Online Safety Act. Even so, Apple’s approach exceeds the law’s draconian requirements.

Critics say the policy places needless limits on millions of British users, effectively turning their devices into supervised environments unless they hand over sensitive personal information. User reports indicate that people without a credit card or government ID have no workaround and must simply accept the restrictions.

Britain’s age-verification drive has already produced side effects, including a sharp rise in VPN usage as people seek ways around the rules. Apple’s actions in Britain are widely viewed as a possible blueprint for similar requirements elsewhere.

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19 hours ago
Politics

A Democrat Will Now Represent Trump in the Florida Legislature.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Democrats flipped Florida’s 87th House District seat in a special election, a district won by President Donald J. Trump in 2024, which includes his Palm Beach residence.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Democrat Emily Gregory defeated Republican Jon Maples, who was endorsed by Donald Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The election took place in Florida’s 87th House District, including areas such as Palm Beach Gardens and Jupiter.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This victory reiterates an undeniable trend in Florida: with year-round organizing and infrastructure investment, Democrats can run and win anywhere–including Donald Trump’s backyard.” — Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried

🎯IMPACT: The victory adds to a series of Democratic special-election wins, and is another signal to the Trump White House that voters want greater focus on domestic matters.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump was dealt a political blow late Tuesday night when Democrats managed to flip Florida‘s 87th State House District in a special election, which includes his Palm Beach residence of Mar-a-Lago. The district was carried by Trump during the 2024 presidential election by over 10 points and has historically leaned Republican.

Democrat candidate Emily Gregory defeated the Republican nominee Jon Maples, who was endorsed by Trump, with over 51 percent of the vote. In 2024, State Representative Mike Caruso (R-FL) won the seat by 19 points.

Gregory was able to overcome the district’s Republican partisan advantage by focusing her campaign predominantly on local issues impacting Florida, particularly housing affordability and skyrocketing property insurance premiums. The insurance issue has long plagued Republicans in Florida politics, with outgoing Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) failing to address it amid increasing legislative pushback.

Notably, while Maples touted his endorsement from Trump, Gregory largely avoided discussing the President while on the campaign trail. “I mean, I don’t think all of that much about it, right? He’s one of 115,000 registered voters in District 87,” she said, referring to President Trump.

Florida Republicans tried to downplay the results, but Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried celebrated the win, stating, “This victory reiterates an undeniable trend in Florida: with year-round organizing and infrastructure investment, Democrats can run and win anywhere–including Donald Trump’s backyard.”

The Democrats’ win is just the latest in voter signals to the Trump White House that the administration isn’t doing enough to assuage concerns about domestic conditions, especially regarding the economy. The National Pulse reported earlier this week that new polling data found 66 percent of independents—one of the, if not the most, critical voting blocs in U.S. elections—say the Trump administration is “focused too little” on domestic matters.

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19 hours ago
War
World

What the New Date for the Trump-Xi Summit Tells Us:

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump is set to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in May, as announced by the White House.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The meeting is scheduled for May 14-15, with Xi expected to visit the U.S. at a later date.

💬KEY QUOTE: “My meeting with the Highly Respected President of China, President Xi Jinping, which was originally postponed due to our Military operation in Iran, has been rescheduled, and will take place in Beijing on May 14th and 15th.” — President Trump

🎯IMPACT: The meeting comes as tensions rise in the Middle East, and global energy markets are roiled by oil volatility. However, the planned trip to China now falls outside the four- to six-week window for military operations against Iran that President Trump initially outlined on February 28.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump will now meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on May 14 and 15 after the original March 31 summit was postponed due to the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military strikes against the Islamic Republic of Iran. The White House on Wednesday confirmed the new dates for the highly anticipated talks between the two leaders, with the planned trip to China now falling outside the four- to six-week window for military operations against Iran that President Trump initially outlined on February 28.

“My meeting with the Highly Respected President of China, President Xi Jinping, which was originally postponed due to our Military operation in Iran, has been rescheduled, and will take place in Beijing on May 14th and 15th,” President Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the trip. He continued, “First Lady Melania and I will also host President Xi and Madame Peng for a reciprocal visit in Washington, D.C., at a later date, this year. Our Representatives are finalizing preparations for these Historic Visits. I look very much forward to spending time with President Xi in what will be, I am sure, a Monumental Event.”

While the summit will likely focus on the ongoing trade dispute between the United States and China, as well as foreign policy in the Pacific, the situation in Iran is likely to also be a topic of discussion. China accounts for upwards of 90 percent of Iran’s petroleum exports, and Iran’s oil accounts for about 20 percent of China’s energy imports. Since the start of 2026, the United States has significantly curtailed China’s access to cheap oil with the removal of Venezuela’s narco-dictator Nicolás Maduro and the U.S. takeover of its oil industry, along with the ongoing military strikes against Iran.

China’s export economy is heavily reliant on artificially deflating its currency and avoiding inflationary pressures, such as high energy prices. The National Pulse reported last week that Asian energy markets have been especially hit hard by energy price volatility due to the Iran conflict.

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20 hours ago
Economy
War

Iran War Forces USPS to Impose First-Ever Fuel Surcharge.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Postal Service is set to impose its first-ever eight percent fuel surcharge on packages.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The U.S. Postal Service and Postmaster General David Steiner.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The surcharge begins in April 2026; it is planned to phase out by January 2027.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The agency will run out of money in a year.” – David Steiner

🎯IMPACT: This move aims to address financial struggles, similar to actions by FedEx and UPS.

IN FULL

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is set to impose an eight percent surcharge on packages in an effort to offset sharply rising fuel costs. This will be the first time the Postal Service has ever applied such a surcharge.

The new fee is scheduled to take effect in April 2026 and run through January 2027. Letter mail will not be affected. The decision brings the agency in line with other major parcel carriers such as FedEx and United Parcel Service, which have long used fuel surcharges and have recently raised them in response to higher oil prices linked to the Iran war.

Diesel prices have climbed to $5.38 per gallon—a 51 percent jump from a year ago. Postmaster General David Steiner has voiced serious concerns about the agency’s long-term financial health, warning it will “run out of money in a year.” He has called on lawmakers to ease regulatory limits that currently restrict the Postal Service’s ability to increase prices.

The Iran war is already wreaking havoc on energy markets worldwide, with BlackRock CEO Larry Fink warning of a “stark and steep recession” if oil prices hit $150 a barrel. The Iranian regime has largely closed the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway carrying much of the world’s oil supply, in response to U.S.-Israeli strikes against them.

The strait also carries a large share of global fertilizer supplies, with its closure having significant implications for American farmers.

Image by Sam LaRussa.

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21 hours ago
News
TECH

Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta is Laying Off Hundreds Across Multiple Divisions.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Meta began laying off hundreds of employees, affecting its Reality Labs virtual reality division and at least four other divisions.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Meta employees across Reality Labs, recruiting, sales, global operations, and Facebook social teams.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Layoffs began on Wednesday, with notifications continuing in the coming weeks, depending on location.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Teams across Meta regularly restructure or implement changes to ensure they’re in the best position to achieve their goals.” – Meta spokesman

🎯IMPACT: Employees may be offered new roles, relocation options, or face job cuts as Meta shifts focus toward artificial intelligence (AI) investment.

IN FULL

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced on Wednesday that it will begin laying off hundreds of employees. The layoffs at the Mark Zuckerberg-led technology company will primarily impact its Reality Labs virtual reality division and at least four other departments, with Meta plowing more resources into artificial intelligence (AI) development instead.

“Teams across Meta regularly restructure or implement changes to ensure they’re in the best position to achieve their goals,” a Meta spokesman said in a statement regarding the layoffs. They continued, claiming that efforts would be made to find “other opportunities for employees whose positions may be impacted.”

Outside Meta’s Reality Labs division, other departments impacted include recruiting, sales, global operations, and Facebook social teams. The company indicated that layoff notifications will continue to be sent in the coming weeks; however, some employees will be offered new roles or relocation options instead of outright dismissal.

Earlier this year, CEO Mark Zuckerberg emphasized a shift toward AI investments. In a January Facebook post, he stated, “We’re starting to see projects that used to require big teams now be accomplished by a single very talented person.” Meta’s 2026 quarterly report projects Reality Labs’ operating losses will be similar to 2025 levels, alongside increased compensation expenses for AI-focused hires. Meta employed nearly 79,000 workers as of December last year.

Image by TechCrunch.

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