Meta Implements Latest Layoff Wave with a 5% Workforce Reduction

According to an internal memo to employees that was reviewed by The New York Times, Meta intends to dismiss up to 5 percent of its workforce based on performance evaluations.

“I’ve chosen to elevate the standards of performance management and expedite the departure of low performers,” stated Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, in the memo. “Typically, we manage out individuals who fail to meet expectations over the span of a year, but now we’re going to implement more substantial performance-related reductions in this cycle.”

Zuckerberg indicated in the memo that positions eliminated would be filled by new staff beginning in 2025.

These layoffs were announced shortly after Meta revealed significant alterations to its content moderation policies. The organization, which operates Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads, stated that it would cease regulating certain forms of hate speech, including permitting users to assert that L.G.B.T.Q. identities are linked to mental health issues.

Meta also announced it would halt the fact-checking of posts and elevate political narratives in its Newsfeed, revoking several content moderation policies in readiness for the incoming Trump administration. President-elect Donald J. Trump has criticized Meta and other technology firms for what he refers to as censorship of conservative opinions.

A representative for Meta chose not to comment on the layoffs. Earlier, Bloomberg reported on the reductions.

Last week, Zuckerberg announced the immediate termination of the company’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. In a discussion with podcaster Joe Rogan on Friday, Zuckerberg remarked that “masculine energy, I believe, is beneficial.”

“It’s about balance; you want both feminine and masculine energies,” Zuckerberg remarked. “I perceive that as positive. However, I do feel that the corporate culture had leaned toward being somewhat more neutered.”

On Meta’s internal message boards, employees inquired whether the layoffs would focus on certain demographics, such as the L.G.B.T.Q. community or racial minorities.

“In light of what we heard from Mark regarding D.E.I. last week, should we anticipate that these layoffs will affect individuals who do not embody the masculine energy he desires?” one worker questioned.

In a distinct memo intended for managers that was reviewed by The Times, Meta indicated that these reductions aimed to ensure the company comprised the “strongest talent” in its workforce, which would also facilitate the hiring of new personnel. Managers were informed that those dismissed would receive “generous” severance packages.

These alterations align with Zuckerberg’s broader initiative to reshape the company for the Trump presidency and shield Meta from regulatory threats by strengthening ties with the incoming administration.

Last year, Zuckerberg visited Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s private club in Palm Beach, Fla., for the first time. He contributed $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund and expressed a willingness to collaborate with the administration to combat what he describes as excessively strict regulations in the EU and other international markets.

Zuckerberg is also expected to attend Trump’s inauguration ceremony on January 20, according to two individuals familiar with his intentions who requested anonymity. He is scheduled to co-host a formal reception for the incoming president that evening, accompanied by prominent Republican donors Miriam Adelson and Tilman Fertitta, as per an invitation shared with The Times.

A spokesperson for Meta opted not to comment on Zuckerberg’s political engagements.

Meta currently employs over 72,000 individuals, as indicated in its most recent earnings report, and the reductions Zuckerberg detailed on Tuesday would lead to the termination of approximately 3,600 positions.

These reductions also signify Meta’s first significant downsizing since 2023, when Zuckerberg initiated what he termed the “year of efficiency,” a strategy aimed at streamlining the workforce after what he characterized as “over hiring” during the pandemic. He urged managers across various departments to establish heightened performance objectives to eliminate underperformers, leading to a reduction of nearly one-third of its entire workforce in 2023.

Nonetheless, the size of Meta’s workforce has expanded. Zuckerberg has sought to fill many of those eliminated positions with new recruits concentrated on artificial intelligence, as Meta and other major tech firms are directing their efforts towards developing chatbots and other AI-driven services.