Bob Woodward has said he is “crushed” by the scale of recent layoffs at The Washington Post, adding his voice to growing concern about the future of one of America’s most influential newsrooms.

The veteran investigative journalist, whose career at the paper spans more than five decades, spoke out after management confirmed another round of job cuts that will significantly reduce newsroom staff and reshape editorial operations.

Woodward described the dismissals as deeply painful for colleagues and harmful to the institution’s ability to pursue rigorous, long-term reporting.

He emphasised that the strength of the newspaper has historically rested on experienced reporters, editors and foreign correspondents, warning that the loss of institutional memory and specialist expertise risks undermining coverage of complex national and global issues.

The layoffs form part of a broader restructuring as the newspaper responds to sustained financial pressures, falling advertising revenues and shifts in digital consumption.

Senior executives have said the changes are intended to stabilise finances and refocus resources on core coverage areas, including national politics and government, while streamlining sections seen as less central to future growth.

Woodward’s comments echo unease expressed by current and former staff, who fear that repeated rounds of cuts could erode the paper’s standing and investigative reach.

While management maintains that the restructuring is necessary to secure long-term sustainability, critics argue that the reductions risk weakening one of the most prominent pillars of American journalism at a time when public trust and accountability reporting are already under strain.