The Washington Post has announced significant layoffs affecting nearly a third of its staff, including the complete elimination of its sports section, several foreign bureaus, and books coverage. Executive editor Matt Murray described the decision as painful but necessary, citing changes in technology, user habits, and a decline in daily story output. The move comes amid mounting financial losses and follows the newspaper's recent scaling back of its coverage for the upcoming Winter Olympics. The layoffs have sparked criticism from former staff and media experts, who warn of the impact on journalism and the paper's legacy. Owner Jeff Bezos has not commented publicly on the decision, though some point to his recent involvement in editorial matters as a shift from his previously hands-off approach.