Will Lewis’ departure comes after the paper cut 30% of its staff while struggling to maintain readership
Will Lewis has resigned as CEO and publisher of the Washington Post, following a comprehensive round of layoffs that impacted nearly every department. In recent years, the publication has grappled with a significant decline in both audience numbers and ad revenue.
In a message to staff shared by several outlets on Saturday, Lewis, who had held the post since early 2024, stated that “tough decisions” were made “to ensure the sustainable future of The Post,” adding that he believed the outlet would continue to publish “high-quality nonpartisan news” for years to come.
Unions representing employees welcomed Lewis’ departure, condemning his legacy as an “attempted destruction of a great American journalism institution” and urging owner Jeff Bezos to reverse course.
”Will Lewis’s exit is long overdue,” the Washington Post Guild said, adding that Bezos “must immediately rescind these layoffs or sell the paper to someone willing to invest in its future.”
The past several years have been turbulent for the 148-year-old newspaper, which for decades has shaped the American political landscape. Earlier this month, the WaPo announced layoffs affecting one-third of its staff, with the sports section entirely eliminated.
In early 2025, Semafor, citing internal data, reported that the WaPo’s daily active users dropped from around 22.5 million in 2021 to 2.5-3 million by mid-2024. Around the same time, the Wall Street Journal reported that the WaPo’s ad revenue fell from $190 million in 2023 to $174 million in 2024.
Lewis’ tenure was also overshadowed by directional changes that alienated parts of its readership. In October 2024, the WaPo announced it would not endorse a presidential candidate for the first time in 36 years. Media reports claimed Bezos ordered leaders to pull back from the planned endorsement of Kamala Harris, breaking with the tradition of supporting Democratic candidates.
Commenting on the newspaper’s fragile state, former executive editor Martin Baron suggested Bezos was wary of US President Donald Trump. “This is a newspaper that has prided itself on its independence, and Jeff Bezos’ behavior has led readers to think he is not independent at all,” Baron said. “He’s actually dependent – dependent on Donald Trump.”