Meta will lay off 10 percent of its workforce, a move that had been expected for nearly a month. In an internal letter to employees, CEO Mark Zuckerberg explained the reasons behind the decision and the direction the company is taking.
Zuckerberg thanked the employees affected by the layoffs, emphasised the importance of artificial intelligence, said there should be no further cuts in 2026, and outlined his vision for the company’s future. In addition to the layoffs, Meta is reassigning 7,000 employees to positions related to artificial intelligence, according to NBC News.
8,000 Will Be Let Go, 6,000 Positions Will Be Left Unfilled
“But success is not guaranteed. Artificial intelligence is the most important technology of our time. The companies that lead will define the next generation,” Zuckerberg wrote in a letter published on X by a New York Times journalist, whose authenticity was confirmed by a source familiar with the situation speaking to NBC News.
Following last month’s leak of information about the upcoming layoffs, Meta executives confirmed — just ahead of the release of the company’s first-quarter 2026 results — that the company was preparing to cut approximately 10 percent of its workforce.
The reorganisation, which Meta first detailed in an internal memo in April, involves the elimination of around 8,000 positions and the filling of approximately 6,000 open roles. The company had previously confirmed the authenticity of the memo to NBC News. Employees affected by the restructuring were notified yesterday.
“We Are Transforming Our Company”
In April, Meta explained part of the financial rationale behind the decision, stating that it was raising its capital expenditure for 2026 to between $125 billion and $145 billion. The reason cited was “expectations for higher component prices this year and, to a lesser extent, additional data centre costs for future capacity,” according to the first-quarter 2026 report.
“This is the most dynamic period I have seen in our industry. I am optimistic about everything we are building to enable billions of people to express themselves and connect with the people they care about. We are transforming our company to ensure it is always the best place for talented people who want to have the greatest impact,” Zuckerberg wrote in the memo sent yesterday.
He noted that he is “grateful to those leaving today” and added that the company had not been as transparent as he would have liked — something he stressed must change in the future.
US-based employees who were laid off will receive a severance package that includes four months of pay, plus additional weeks for each year of service at Meta, according to an internal April memo from Chief Human Resources Officer Janelle Gale. Additional support is also being provided, including assistance with immigration matters and health insurance.
