Washington Post begins sweeping layoffs as it scales back news coverage

The Washington Post, owned by Jeff Bezos, announced sweeping layoffs on February 4, 2026, as it scales back its news coverage. The storied newspaper will eliminate its sports department and reduce its foreign news coverage, according to executive editor Matt Murray, who broke the news during a Zoom call with employees. The layoffs will affect a third of the workforce across all departments, including the local news department and editing staff. The books department will also be closed, and the number of journalists stationed overseas will be significantly reduced. Barry Svrluga, a sports columnist at the Post, confirmed on social media that the sports department will be shut down in its current form. The announcement follows days of speculation about potential cuts to the foreign, sports, and local desks. Former executive editor Martin Baron expressed concern that the cuts will seriously weaken the paper's ability to cover news, stating that the scope of coverage will be dramatically diminished. Reporters from the Post's foreign and local desks had previously sent letters to Bezos pleading with him not to cut any jobs, emphasizing the importance of their work in covering significant news developments. Bezos acquired The Washington Post in 2013 for $250 million, promising to pursue the truth and follow important stories, 'no matter the cost.'