Newsroom and business staff at The Washington Post are bracing for potential major layoffs and morale within the iconic newspaper’s offices has turned bleak as owner Jeff Bezos has remained publicly silent on the matter.

In recent weeks, dozens of employees across key reporting units have sent letters and social media pleas directly to Bezos urging him to intervene and prevent cuts that could decimate foreign, local and other essential coverage areas as cost-cutting measures are anticipated.

Staffers described the atmosphere in the newsroom as tense and “funereal,” with many internal discussions acknowledging that a round of layoffs could be announced imminently. Members of the newspaper’s international foreign desk were among the first to send a unified letter to Bezos, warning that cuts to their operations would weaken global reporting that has shaped public discourse and influenced other major news outlets.

Roughly sixty foreign correspondents signed that appeal, highlighting the central role of international journalism in the Post’s mission. Shortly thereafter, local news reporters and the White House team sent similar letters underscoring the importance of preserving their reporting capacity amid broader restructuring expectations.

These internal efforts reflect widespread fear that the cuts could range into the low hundreds, potentially affecting a substantial share of the roughly eight-hundred-strong newsroom.

Bezos’s lack of public comment on the unfolding situation has drawn criticism from employees and union representatives, who argue that his absentee stance undermines confidence in the newspaper’s future.

The Post’s finances have been under strain, with reports of multi-million-dollar annual losses prompting leadership to explore cost-reduction strategies. Last month, management abruptly scaled back planned coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics, a move that heightened concerns about deeper operational retrenchment and reinforced perceptions of uncertainty about the newspaper’s editorial direction.

Employees have publicly shared messages under hashtags such as “#SaveThePost” and emphasised the institution’s historic role in holding power to account and providing comprehensive coverage across national and international beats.

While there has been no official public announcement confirming the scope or timing of layoffs, union leaders and staff groups have voiced opposition to any cuts they believe would significantly weaken The Washington Post’s journalistic capacity.

Former editors and industry figures have echoed these concerns, highlighting that substantial reductions could have broader consequences for public interest reporting beyond the newsroom.

Staff insist that preserving robust foreign, metro and investigative teams is essential to maintaining the paper’s relevance and influence as a major voice in American media, even as leadership balances financial pressures and evolving industry dynamics.