The Washington Post announced Saturday that publisher and CEO Will Lewis is stepping down, with chief financial officer Jeff D’Onofrio taking over as acting publisher and CEO. The leadership shakeup comes just days after the newspaper carried out sweeping layoffs—because nothing says “strong leadership” like cutting a third of your staff and then walking out the door.

Lewis shared his decision in a message to employees that was later posted publicly by the paper’s White House bureau chief, Matt Viser.

The move follows major job cuts at the Jeff Bezos–owned newspaper. According to reports, the layoffs began Wednesday and hit every department, including hundreds of newsroom employees. About one-third of the workforce was eliminated, a clear sign that the so-called “paper of record” is having trouble keeping its own house in order.

D’Onofrio joined The Post in June 2025 as chief financial officer after working in senior positions across digital media and technology companies. Now he’s stepping into the top role, at least temporarily, as the company tries to stabilize after the mass firings.

Lewis, a longtime media executive, took over as publisher and CEO in early 2024 after his appointment was announced in late 2023. His tenure now ends as the paper faces shrinking staff and ongoing financial pressure.

While The Washington Post lectures the country about leadership and accountability, its own leadership is changing amid layoffs and uncertainty. Still, with new management stepping in, the paper has a chance to regroup and prove it can survive its own headlines—and maybe even remember what real journalism looks like.