The Washington Post, one of America’s most respected newspapers, announced massive job cuts on February 4, 2026, eliminating roughly one-third of its newsroom staff. Over 300 journalists and staff members lost their jobs in what became one of the most dramatic downsizings in the paper’s history. Executive editor Matt Murray delivered the news during a Zoom call, and affected employees were immediately locked out of the building and computer systems.
The Washington Post eliminated one-third of its newsroom in February 2026, cutting over 300 journalists in a devastating downsizing.
The cuts hit several departments particularly hard. The entire sports department disappeared completely, along with the books department. Local news coverage, foreign reporting, and the Metro section all faced major reductions. For a newsroom of approximately 800 people, losing 30% of the workforce meant hundreds of experienced journalists suddenly found themselves without jobs. News organizations often respond to downturns by prioritizing dividend-paying stocks to shore up income, though that strategy is more common among corporate owners than newsroom decisions.
Just one day after the layoffs, staff members gathered outside the Washington Post headquarters in a rally organized by the Post News Guild and Post Tech Guild. Former reporter Rachel Weiner spoke about the loss of community coverage, while sports reporter Molly Hensley-Clancy called the cuts senseless. Retired staffer Kathryn Tolbert said the newspaper’s heart and soul had been torn apart. The rally included attendance from former staff, laid-off employees, tech workers, supporters, and retired staff members.
Management described the layoffs as a strategic reset necessary because of heavy financial losses. The newspaper has struggled with declining readership, dropping from 1.36 billion unique visits in 2023 to just 1.15 billion in 2025. Owned by Jeff Bezos, the Post has faced ongoing cost challenges despite his considerable wealth. The workforce has shrunk by roughly 400 people over the last three years. Murray acknowledged prior rounds of cost cuts and buyouts that had already taken place before these latest reductions.
Former editor Martin Baron warned that the newspaper’s coverage scope has been dramatically diminished. Guild president Dan Gabor blamed the crisis on failed leadership and vision rather than unavoidable circumstances. Murray argued in his letter that the changes position the paper for new technologies and reader habits, though many staff members remain unconvinced.
The unions planned a SaveThePost rally and warned that further reductions would damage the newspaper’s credibility and reach with readers who depend on quality journalism.
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