Leadership Change at The Washington Post

Will Lewis, who became publisher and chief executive of The Washington Post in 2024, announced his resignation on February 7, 2026, after a tenure marked by efforts to reshape the paper's business and newsroom. In early February the company enacted sweeping reductions that removed about one-third of the staff and cut more than 300 journalists, with entire sections such as sports and books closed and several overseas bureaus pared back. The scale of the cuts prompted immediate outcry from newsroom staff and readers.

Lewis did not attend a company meeting at which employees were told that they might lose their jobs, and staff described the process as abrupt and painful. The Post Guild characterized his departure as overdue and urged owner Jeff Bezos to rescind the layoffs or consider other options to preserve journalism at the paper. While Lewis framed the measures as necessary to secure a sustainable future, many journalists and former editors criticized his leadership and decisions.

The newspaper has named Jeff D'Onofrio, the chief financial officer, as interim CEO and publisher; D'Onofrio joined the Post in June 2025 and previously held senior roles at Tumblr, Google and Yahoo. Bezos welcomed the leadership change and emphasized a focus on reader value and business performance, while the new interim leader will oversee both editorial and commercial priorities as the company stabilizes.

Observers have noted that the combination of deep cuts and a management change will reshape coverage and staffing for months, and the outcome will depend on how the Post balances quality reporting with financial demands. The institution’s future was described by leadership as hinged on long‑term sustainability, and that message will now be tested in practice.