Will Lewis, CEO of The Washington Post, announced on Saturday that he is stepping down, just days after the newspaper revealed plans to lay off approximately one-third of its staff. In an email to employees, shared on social media by a Post reporter, Lewis said, “Now is the right time for me to step aside,” after two years leading the newspaper through a period of transformation.
Lewis will be temporarily replaced by The Post’s chief financial officer, Jeff D’Onofrio. A statement from the newspaper confirmed that D’Onofrio would assume leadership “effective immediately,” but provided few additional details.
The layoffs, announced Wednesday, affected hundreds of journalists, including the closure of the Post’s sports section, the elimination of its photography staff, and significant reductions in coverage of metropolitan Washington and overseas affairs. While the newspaper did not disclose exact numbers, The New York Times reported that roughly 300 of the paper’s 800 journalists were let go. Neither Lewis nor owner Jeff Bezos participated in the staff meeting where the cuts were communicated.
The Post has faced a turbulent period in recent years, marked by high-profile departures and declining subscribers. Many attribute the instability to Bezos’ decision in late 2024 to withdraw a planned endorsement of Kamala Harris during the presidential campaign, followed by a shift of the newspaper’s opinion section toward a more conservative stance. Martin Baron, the Post’s first editor under Bezos, called the changes “a case study in near-instant, self-inflicted brand destruction,” accusing the billionaire of attempting to “curry favour with President Trump.”
Lewis, a British-born executive who previously held senior roles at The Wall Street Journal, became CEO in January 2024. His tenure was marred by the failed reorganization plan that led to the departure of former top editor Sally Buzbee. In his farewell email, Lewis praised Bezos, writing, “The institution could not have had a better owner. During my tenure, difficult decisions have been taken in order to ensure the sustainable future of The Post so it can for many years ahead publish high-quality nonpartisan news to millions of customers each day.”
The Washington Post Guild, which represents newsroom staff, criticized Lewis’ leadership, calling his departure “long overdue.” In a statement, the union said, “His legacy will be the attempted destruction of a great American journalism institution. But it’s not too late to save The Post. Jeff Bezos must immediately rescind these layoffs or sell the paper to someone willing to invest in its future.”
Bezos issued a statement highlighting the new leadership team, saying D’Onofrio and his colleagues are positioned to guide The Post into “an exciting and thriving next chapter.” D’Onofrio, who joined the paper last June, acknowledged the challenging times in a note to staff and expressed confidence in the newspaper’s ability to navigate the shifting media landscape.
