Meta to cut ~8,000 jobs

Meta is preparing to cut about 8,000 jobs in a first layoff wave set to start May 20, according to a Reuters report cited by Fox Business. (foxbusiness.com) Fox Business reported the initial cuts would equal roughly 10% of Meta’s workforce. Reuters, as quoted in that report, said more layoffs are planned for the second half of 2026, though the timing and scope were still unclear. (foxbusiness.com) The Economic Times reported a larger scenario under discussion could put as many as 16,000 roles at risk across multiple rounds. That outlet said the May 20 reductions would be the first phase of a broader restructuring. (economictimes.indiatimes.com) Meta entered 2026 after telling investors it had 76,834 employees at the end of 2025. In the same January 28 earnings release, Mark Zuckerberg said he was focused on “advancing personal superintelligence” in 2026. (investor.atmeta.com) That staffing plan sits next to a much bigger spending plan for machines, chips and data centers. Meta told investors it expects 2026 capital expenditures of $115 billion to $135 billion, up from $72.22 billion in 2025. (investor.atmeta.com) Susan Li, Meta’s chief financial officer, said on the fourth-quarter earnings call that the higher spending would support “Meta Superintelligence Labs efforts and core business.” Reuters, via Fox Business, tied the planned layoffs to those rising artificial intelligence infrastructure costs. (s21.q4cdn.com) (foxbusiness.com) The reported companywide cuts would follow smaller, targeted reductions already surfacing in California. Fox Business reported earlier this month that Meta planned to eliminate about 200 Bay Area jobs in Burlingame and Sunnyvale in late May. (foxbusiness.com) Meta has not publicly announced the broader May 20 layoffs in an investor filing or press release as of April 19, 2026. For now, the clearest timeline comes from Reuters-based reporting: one large round on May 20, with the possibility of more cuts later this year. (foxbusiness.com)