What Happened to The Washington Post?
The Washington Post, a venerable American newspaper owned by Jeff Bezos, has faced significant financial challenges and internal turmoil in recent years, marked by substantial losses, leadership changes, and widespread layoffs. Despite efforts to pivot towards digital and AI-driven strategies, the publication has seen a decline in subscribers and a reorientation of its editorial stance, leading to questions about its future direction and journalistic mission.
Quick Answer
The Washington Post has experienced a turbulent period marked by significant financial losses, leadership upheaval, and mass layoffs between 2024 and 2026. Publisher Will Lewis resigned in February 2026 following deep staff cuts and controversies, with Jeff D'Onofrio stepping in as interim CEO. The paper has seen a decline in both print and digital subscribers, and its editorial direction has shifted, leading to concerns about its traditional role as a 'paper of record' and its long-term sustainability under Jeff Bezos's ownership.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline14 events
Will Lewis Appointed CEO and Publisher
Sir William Lewis, a British media executive, took over as the new CEO and publisher of The Washington Post, tasked with turning around its financial fortunes.
New 'Build It' Strategy and AI Focus Announced
Publisher Will Lewis unveiled a new strategy, 'Build It,' aiming to address financial losses and declining audience. This included plans for new subscription tiers and a commitment to integrating artificial intelligence into the newsroom.
Executive Editor Sally Buzbee Steps Down
Sally Buzbee, the first female executive editor of The Washington Post, abruptly stepped down after three years. Matt Murray was named interim executive editor, and a 'third newsroom' focused on social media journalism was announced.
Lewis Reports $100 Million Loss and Audience Decline
Will Lewis informed staff that the Post had lost $100 million in 2024 and its audience had halved since 2020, highlighting the severe financial challenges.
Post Ends Presidential Endorsements, Sparks Subscriber Exodus
The Post announced it would no longer endorse presidential candidates, a decision reportedly influenced by owner Jeff Bezos. This led to an estimated 200,000 to 300,000 digital subscribers canceling their subscriptions.
Sally Buzbee Joins Reuters
Former Executive Editor Sally Buzbee began a new role as News Editor for the United States and Canada at Reuters, following her departure from the Post.
Opinion Section Shifts Focus, More Subscriber Losses
Jeff Bezos announced the opinion section would prioritize 'personal liberties and free markets,' leading to the resignation of opinion editor David Shipley and columnist Ruth Marcus, and over 75,000 digital subscriber cancellations.
Jeff D'Onofrio Joins as CFO
Jeff D'Onofrio, former CEO of Tumblr, joined The Washington Post as its Chief Financial Officer, a role that would soon become more prominent.
Print Circulation Falls Below 100,000
The average daily print circulation of The Washington Post declined to 87,576 in the six months ending September 2025, marking the first time it fell below 100,000 in 55 years.
Mass Layoffs Announced, Sections Eliminated
The Post announced sweeping layoffs, cutting nearly one-third of its staff (over 300 journalists). The sports and books sections were eliminated, and international and metro coverage were drastically reduced.
Will Lewis Resigns as CEO and Publisher
Will Lewis stepped down as CEO and publisher, just days after the mass layoffs. Jeff D'Onofrio was appointed interim CEO and publisher. Lewis's departure followed widespread criticism of his leadership.
Executive Editor States Post is 'Not a Paper of Record'
Executive Editor Matt Murray stated that The Washington Post is 'not a paper of record' anymore, reflecting a strategic shift towards more distinctive, urgent, and must-read journalism rather than comprehensive coverage.
Further Subscriber Cancellations Post-Layoffs
Reports indicated that over 60,000 digital subscribers canceled their subscriptions in the days following the February 2026 mass layoffs, adding to the paper's financial challenges.
Continued Operations Amid Restructuring
As of today, The Washington Post continues to publish breaking news, analysis, and opinion pieces, operating under its new interim leadership and significantly restructured newsroom.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The Washington Post, a pillar of American journalism since 1877, has navigated a tumultuous period from 2024 into 2026, grappling with financial instability, strategic shifts, and significant internal dissent. Owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos since 2013, the paper, known for its motto 'Democracy Dies in Darkness,' has struggled to maintain its footing in a rapidly evolving media landscape.
In January 2024, Will Lewis, a British media executive, took the helm as CEO and publisher, tasked with revitalizing the struggling institution. However, his tenure was marked by controversy and a series of unpopular decisions. By June 2024, Lewis publicly acknowledged that the Post had lost $77 million in the previous year and experienced a 50% drop in audience since 2020. He introduced a new strategy called 'Build It,' which included plans for new subscription tiers and an embrace of artificial intelligence to improve financial performance.
A major turning point occurred in October 2024 when the Post, for the first time since 1988, announced it would not endorse a presidential candidate in the upcoming U.S. election. This decision, reportedly influenced by Jeff Bezos, sparked widespread outrage and led to an estimated 200,000 to 300,000 digital subscriber cancellations. Further controversy arose in February 2025 when Bezos declared the opinion section would exclusively publish pieces supporting 'personal liberties and free markets,' prompting the resignation of opinion editor David Shipley and veteran columnist Ruth Marcus, and an additional loss of over 75,000 digital subscribers.
The financial woes deepened, with the Post reportedly losing around $100 million in 2024 and over $100 million (some reports suggest up to $125 million) in 2025. These losses were attributed to declining subscriptions, falling advertising revenue, and a significant drop in search traffic due to the rise of AI tools. Print circulation also continued its decline, falling below 100,000 in 2025 for the first time in 55 years.
The culmination of these challenges came in February 2026 with sweeping layoffs that cut nearly one-third of the Post's staff, impacting over 300 journalists. Entire sections, including sports and books, were eliminated, and international and metro coverage were drastically reduced. Just days after these cuts, on February 7, 2026, Will Lewis resigned as CEO and publisher amidst widespread criticism for his handling of the layoffs and perceived detachment from the newsroom. Jeff D'Onofrio, who joined as CFO in June 2025, was appointed interim CEO and publisher. Executive Editor Matt Murray, who delivered the news of the layoffs, later stated in February 2026 that the Post is 'not a paper of record' anymore, signaling a significant shift in its editorial ambition. As of April 2026, the Post continues to operate under a significantly leaner structure, with ongoing efforts to stabilize its finances and redefine its journalistic mission in a challenging media environment.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if The Washington Post made different choices?