Washington Post publisher Will Lewis steps down just days after axing hundreds of staff at Jeff Bezos’ newspaper

Post reporters shared images of a memo sent by publisher and CEO William Lewis announcing his departure

Washington Post CEO and publisher William Lewis is reportedly stepping downjust days after the firing of hundreds of staffers at the legendary paper.

Lewis reportedly announced the change in a staff memo sent on Saturday, according to Washington Post reporters on social media who shared images of the memo.

"All - after two years of transformation at The Washington Post, now is the right time for me to step aside. I want to thank Jeff Bezos for his support and leadership throughout my tenure as CEO and Publisher. The institution could not have a better owner," Lewis reportedly wrote in his email.

Bezos, the CEO of Amazon and owner of the Washington Post, faced sharp criticism after the newsroom's staff was slashed by an estimated 300 reporters earlier this week.

"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," Lewis reportedly said in the memo.

Washington Post CEO and publisher William Lewis abruptly announced his departure from the paper in a Saturday memo just days after laying off hundreds at the company (TWP)

The Post said that its current CFO, Jeff D'Onofrio — formerly the CEO of Tumblr — will take over as acting publisher and CEO "effective immediately," according to CNN.

In his own memo on Saturday, D'Onofrio wrote that he is "honored ot take the helm as acting Publisher and CEO to lead us into a sustainable, successful future with the strength of our journalism as our north star."

There is no mention in either memo of Lewis staying on during the transition period.

Bezos also issued a statement on Saturday discussing the future of the paper.

“The Post has an essential journalistic mission and an extraordinary opportunity,” Bezos wrote in his first statement since the layoffs. “Each and every day our readers give us a roadmap to success. The data tells us what is valuable and where to focus.”

A protester holds a cutout of Jeff Bezos' face outside of the Washington Post office following a mass layoff, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in Washington. (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

D’Onofrio, the paper’s executive editor Matt Murray, and its Opinion editor Adam O’Neal, “are positioned to lead The Post into an exciting and thriving next chapter,” Bezos said.

According to CNN, reporters at the paper had not heard from Lewis during or after the layoff announcement earlier this week, but he was spotted at a red-carpet pre-Super Bowl event.

Some reporters on social media were more than happy to see that Lewis was leaving the paper.

“What Will Lewis has accomplished at @washingtonpost would be impressive if it weren't so depressing. In just a few short years, he has caused hundreds of thousands of paid subscribers to stop subscribing, tanked the paper's reputation, kick-started initiatives that have been hilariously inept failures and now has gutted the newsroom to create a product no one is asking for,” Matt Bonesteel, a former Washington Post sports reporter, wrote on X.

He continued, saying Lewis “is an utter failure and should be covered as such.”