CEO of The Washington Post, Will Lewis, steps down

Will Lewis resigned as CEO and publisher of The Washington Post on Saturday, February 7, 2026. His departure came amid intense turmoil within the newsroom and followed the largest workforce reductions in the paper’s history. This sudden exit raises important questions about the future direction of one of America’s most influential newspapers.

Lewis’s resignation was abrupt. He informed staff through a brief, two-paragraph email just three days after the paper laid off over 300 journalists, amounting to roughly 33% of its workforce. This cut was the most severe in the paper’s history and affected many key departments.

The timing of the layoffs and Lewis’s absence during the announcement created significant backlash. While the newsroom gathered for the staff meeting, Lewis was reportedly not present. Instead, he was later seen attending an NFL Honors event in San Francisco, which many employees viewed as a sign of disconnect and disregard for the staff’s struggles.

Following Lewis’s departure, Chief Financial Officer Jeff D’Onofrio has stepped in as acting publisher and CEO. D’Onofrio joined The Washington Post in June 2025 and previously served as CEO of Tumblr. His background in digital media may signal a shift toward new strategies for the paper’s future.

The Washington Post Guild, representing the paper’s employees, described Lewis’s exit as “long overdue.” They criticized his tenure as an “attempted destruction of a great American journalism institution.” This strong language reflects deep frustration over the layoffs and editorial decisions made under his leadership.