Exit follows major layoffs and a turbulent tenure at the historic newspaper
February 8, 2026: Washington Post publisher and CEO Will Lewis has resigned from his position, just days after overseeing large-scale layoffs across the organisation. In a message to staff, shared publicly by the paper’s White House bureau chief, Lewis defended his leadership and said the tough decisions were taken to secure the long-term future of the newspaper. Appointed in 2023 amid mounting financial losses, Lewis had taken charge after the departure of longtime publisher Fred Ryan.
Following his exit, the Washington Post announced that chief financial officer Jeff D’Onofrio will serve as interim publisher and CEO. In an email to employees, D’Onofrio said future decisions would be guided by customer data and audience value. However, unions representing Post employees welcomed Lewis’ departure, calling it “long overdue” and urging owner Jeff Bezos to reverse the layoffs or consider selling the paper to someone willing to invest in its future.
Bezos described the leadership change as an opportunity for renewal, reaffirming the newspaper’s core journalistic mission. Lewis’ tenure was marked by controversy, including repeated staff cuts, subscriber losses after changes to editorial policy, and internal turmoil within the newsroom. His departure comes after criticism over his absence during the recent layoffs, which former editor Marty Baron described as one of the darkest periods in the Post’s history.