The Washington Post is cutting one-third of its staff in February 2026. This guide covers severance, benefits continuation, and practical steps for affected journalists and media professionals.
The Washington Post announced sweeping layoffs on February 4, 2026, cutting roughly one-third of its workforce across all departments. This guide is designed to support employees affected by these layoffs as they navigate their next steps.
According to reports from CNN and The New York Times, more than 300 newsroom employees were affected, with entire sections eliminated including sports, books, and the Post Reports podcast.
Executive editor Matt Murray announced the cuts during a morning Zoom call, describing them as a "strategic reset" in response to declining digital traffic and financial challenges. If you received a layoff notification today, this guide will help you understand your options and plan your next steps.
The Washington Post layoffs 2026 affect union-represented employees covered by the Washington Post Guild contract. Contact the Guild immediately to understand your specific severance rights and negotiate terms. Guild negotiations over severance are ongoing, and your benefits may differ from initial company communications.
The February 2026 layoffs represent one of the most significant workforce reductions in The Washington Post's nearly 150-year history. The cuts come after years of financial challenges, declining digital subscriptions, and controversial editorial decisions under owner Jeff Bezos.
What happened:
Who was affected:
The layoffs hit nearly all corners of the newsroom. According to Poynter's reporting, those laid off include reporters covering race and ethnicity, national health, protest movements and activism, Maryland education, and Amazon. The international desk lost correspondents covering the Middle East, Russia and Ukraine, and international investigations.
Why this is happening:
Executive editor Matt Murray cited several factors in his memo to staff. The Post's organic search traffic has fallen by nearly half in the last three years as Google shifts to AI-generated results. Daily story output has declined significantly over the past five years. The company concluded that its structure was "too rooted in a different era, when we were a dominant, local print product."
The Post's subscriber base dropped significantly after Bezos blocked the planned endorsement of Kamala Harris in late 2024. More than 250,000 readers canceled subscriptions following that decision. This context matters for your resume narrative: the layoffs reflect ownership decisions, not performance issues.
Industry context:
This is part of a broader contraction in traditional media. The Los Angeles Times enacted a 6% newsroom reduction in mid-2025. BuzzFeed shuttered its news division in 2023. Vice Media filed for bankruptcy the same year. Business Insider cut more than 20% of its workforce recently. NBC News Group laid off about 150 employees in late 2025.
The first days after a layoff notification can feel overwhelming. Focus on these concrete actions to protect yourself and set up your job search.
Today and tomorrow:
Contact the Washington Post Guild:
The Guild represents hundreds of newsroom employees and is actively negotiating severance terms. According to the Guild's website, they can help you:
The Washington Post Guild is planning a rally for Thursday, February 6, 2026, outside the paper's headquarters. Even if you've been laid off, participating in collective action may strengthen your negotiating position and provide emotional support during this transition.
Understand your timeline:
Document everything:
As a Washington Post employee, your severance and benefits are influenced by whether you're covered by the Guild contract and your specific role and tenure.
What we know about severance:
Negotiations between the Washington Post Guild and management are ongoing. According to NPR's coverage, at least one Metro staffer declined to share details because "negotiations over severance are ongoing."
In 2023, The Post offered voluntary separation packages to 240 employees during a previous round of cuts. The specific terms of the current layoff package have not been publicly disclosed, but Guild members should expect the union to negotiate collectively on their behalf.
Even if you're not a dues-paying Guild member, the union represents all employees in the bargaining unit. Contact wapounion@gmail.com to understand what rights you have under the expired or current contract.
Benefits to clarify with HR:
What may be negotiable:
If you're a foreign correspondent or based outside the U.S., your visa status may be affected by job loss. Consult an immigration attorney immediately to understand your options and deadlines. Some visa categories have limited time to find new sponsorship.
Washington Post experience carries significant weight in journalism and communications. The challenge is translating your internal work into language that resonates with hiring managers across media, corporate communications, nonprofits, and tech.
Where Post journalists go:
Former Washington Post employees have successfully transitioned to:
Reframe your experience:
Move away from internal Post terminology toward universal descriptions of your skills.
Your portfolio matters more than your resume in journalism. Before you lose access to Post systems, save PDFs of your best work, screenshot any paywalled pieces, and document reader engagement metrics or awards your stories received.
Highlight transferable skills:
Job searching while processing a layoff is emotionally demanding. These resources can help you maintain momentum while taking care of yourself.
Professional networks:
Many laid-off Post journalists are sharing their availability on social media, particularly Bluesky and X. Follow the #WaPoLayoffs hashtag to connect with colleagues and spot opportunities being shared in real time.
Mental health support:
Job loss is a significant life stressor. If your health insurance is still active, consider scheduling an appointment with a mental health professional now rather than waiting until you're in crisis. Many Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) also provide short-term counseling that remains available briefly after termination.
Financial considerations:
Community support:
The Washington Post Guild has historically organized buyout support and maintains connections among current and former Post employees. Reach out to colleagues who have been through previous layoff rounds for advice and job leads.
One of the hardest parts of leaving a major news organization is translating your work into language that resonates outside journalism. Your desk title, beat, and internal achievements may not mean much to an HR system scanning for keywords or a hiring manager at a different type of organization.
This is where intentional resume positioning makes a difference. You need to strip out Post-specific jargon and replace it with industry-standard descriptions that highlight your transferable skills. The reporting you did on federal policy becomes "stakeholder communication and regulatory expertise." Your breaking news experience becomes "crisis communications and rapid content production under deadline pressure."
Yotru's resume builder can help you create targeted resumes that speak to different audiences, whether you're pursuing another journalism role, pivoting to corporate communications, or exploring opportunities in tech. The platform helps you:
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The Washington Post cut roughly one-third of its total workforce in February 2026. According to reporting from CNN and The New York Times, more than 300 of approximately 800 newsroom employees were affected. The layoffs touched nearly all news departments and included significant reductions in sports, books, metro, and international coverage.
This article is written for Washington Post journalists, editors, and newsroom staff affected by the February 2026 layoffs. It provides practical guidance for navigating severance negotiations, union representation, and career transition during a high-stress period of industry-wide media contraction.
Yotru content prioritizes accuracy, neutrality, and evidence-based guidance. All factual claims are verified against company statements, union communications, and reputable news reporting. This article is updated as new information becomes available.
This article draws on publicly available reporting from NBC News, CNN, NPR, Poynter, Axios, and other outlets about The Washington Post's February 2026 restructuring. Additional sources include Washington Post Guild communications, government labor resources, and Yotru's applied research on job search strategy and career transition for media professionals.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, employment, or financial advice. Severance terms, benefits, and union contract provisions may differ from what is described here and are subject to ongoing negotiation. Individual outcomes depend on specific employment circumstances, union membership status, and regional regulations. Readers should consult the Washington Post Guild, qualified attorneys, and financial professionals for guidance specific to their situation.
Layoff Support and Career Transition
Resume and Job Search Strategy
Related Media and Tech Layoffs
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