The Washington Post’s CEO and publisher, Will Lewis, announced his resignation just days after the newspaper cut a third of its staff. Lewis shared the news with employees on Saturday, confirming that after two years of major changes at the paper, he felt it was the right time to step down. The Post is owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos. Jeff D’Onofrio, the paper’s chief financial officer, will take over as CEO immediately. Lewis’s time leading the Post was turbulent, marked by layoffs and a drop in editorial independence. The paper’s decision not to endorse a candidate in the 2024 presidential election sparked criticism. Many said it was to avoid upsetting then-candidate Donald Trump. This move led to the loss of hundreds of thousands of subscribers and about $100 million in 2024 revenue. Lewis also faced backlash after trying to hire Robert Winnett, a British journalist with a controversial background, as top editor. Winnett eventually abandoned the role after reports surfaced about questionable sources in his past reporting. Last week, Lewis was absent from a staff meeting where employees were informed by email if they had lost their jobs. Hundreds of journalists were let go, including the entire Middle East team and the Kyiv-based correspondent. In a note to staff, Lewis said tough decisions were made to ensure the paper’s long-term survival. However, the Washington Post Guild, the employees’ union, called Lewis’s exit "long overdue." They called his leadership an "attempted destruction of a great American journalism institution" and demanded that Bezos reverse the layoffs or sell the paper to someone willing to invest in its future. Jeff Bezos, in announcing D’Onofrio’s new role, made no mention of Lewis but said the paper is ready for an "exciting and thriving next chapter." Bezos added, "The Post has an essential journalistic mission and an extraordinary opportunity. Each and every day our readers give us a roadmap to success. The data tells us what is valuable and where to focus."