Matt Murray

Money Moves

Leading reduced newsroom

When Jeff Bezos bought The Washington Post in 2013 for $250 million, staff hailed him as their savior from mounting financial ruin. Thirteen years later, on February 4, 2026, his paper laid off more than 300 journalists—roughly one-third of its newsroom—eliminating entire sections including sports and books while gutting foreign coverage. The 150-year-old newspaper that broke Watergate is now narrowing its focus largely to politics, national security, and "futures" topics like science and wellness, having lost nearly $100 million in 2025 alone. Laid-off staff will remain on payroll through April 10, 2026, with severance ranging from 4 to 45 weeks of pay depending on tenure, though exact terms remain under negotiation with the Washington Post Guild.

Updated Feb 6