The Washington Post is reportedly preparing to lay off dozens of employees in its business division in the coming week, marking another period of upheaval for the historic newspaper.
According to media reporter Oliver Darcy’s newsletter Status, the layoffs are expected to impact “many dozens” of employees, though the exact number has not yet been confirmed. The Post, owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has not commented publicly on the reported cuts.
The layoffs come amid a turbulent time for the publication, which has faced internal and external challenges in recent months. In October, the newspaper faced significant backlash after deciding to halt its planned endorsement of Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
The decision, reportedly defended by Bezos, led to the cancellation of over 250,000 subscriptions and prompted the resignation of two opinion writers and an editor. The controversy unfolded shortly before Republican nominee Donald Trump defeated Harris in the 2024 presidential election, securing his return to the White House.
The Post has also experienced a series of high-profile staff departures in recent months. Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist Ann Telnaes resigned over the weekend after the newspaper refused to publish one of her satirical cartoons depicting Bezos. Political correspondents Ashley Parker and Michael Scherer left the publication in December to join The Atlantic. Additionally, reporter Josh Dawsey is reportedly set to leave the Post for the Wall Street Journal, as noted in Darcy’s reporting.
A lot of layoffs coming this week for Washington Post Business Division. They had quite a dicey end of 2024. Political Reporter, Josh Dawsey, is leaving for Wall Street Journal. pic.twitter.com/hepLEjfS9w
— Amanda Goodall (@thejobchick) January 6, 2025
This latest round of layoffs follows prior staff reductions at the Washington Post. In September 2024, the paper laid off 54 employees in its tech software division, and a year earlier, it eliminated 240 positions through voluntary buyouts. These reductions reflect broader challenges in the media industry, where many legacy outlets are grappling with declining ad revenue and changes in consumer behavior.
In addition to internal changes, the Post’s ownership under Bezos has attracted attention for his involvement in political and cultural matters. Recently, Amazon announced a $1 million donation to help fund President-elect Donald Trump’s second inauguration, along with a separate in-kind donation valued at another $1 million to stream the event on Amazon’s Prime Video platform. The streaming service also revealed plans for a documentary on incoming First Lady Melania Trump, further intertwining Bezos’s business ventures with political narratives.
The Washington Post has not yet issued an official statement on the reported layoffs, nor has it responded to inquiries from Darcy or other outlets. The anticipated job cuts add to a series of challenges that have placed the newspaper under heightened scrutiny as it navigates both internal discontent and a rapidly evolving media landscape.
