Jeff Bezos-owned Washington Post is cutting about 30% of its workforce as per reports. The sweeping round of layoffs that will impact the Post's coverage of foreign news and sports, including much of the paper’s reporting across Asia and the Middle East.
Journalists on X said the layoffs include the Post’s Asia editor, bureau chiefs in New Delhi, Sydney and Cairo, China and Turkey correspondents, and the entire roster of Middle East reporting teams. Journalists on X said the move will effectively end the paper’s ability to report independently from large parts of the Global South.
Executive editor Matt Murray said the layoffs were intended to bring “stability” to the newsroom. Expectedly, the announcement drew condemnation from employees and several former leaders, one of whom described it as among the “darkest days in the history” of the newspaper.
Murray said that while the Post’s international coverage team will be scaled back, approximately 12 bureaus will remain “with a focus on national security issues.”
The layoffs are the latest in a series of staff reductions and buyouts at the newspaper in recent years, as it grapples with falling subscriptions and financial pressure.
The Post was rocked by a wave of cancellations from digital subscribers and a series of resignations from columnists shortly
before the 2024 U.S. presidential election after owner Jeff Bezos announced his decision to block an endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris for president.
The Post’s struggles contrast with The New York Times, which said on February 4, it added about 1.4 million subscribers in 2025.
Employees affected by the layoffs will remain on payroll until April 10 but will not be required to work as per media reports. They will receive six months of continued health insurance coverage.
Source: Campaign Asia-Pacific
