Meta Platforms began a global workforce reduction on May 20, 2026. The company issued termination notices to thousands of employees, affecting approximately 10% of its total staff. These layoffs started in Asia and are now proceeding through Europe and the United States.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg is executing a plan to reallocate resources toward artificial intelligence. Meta is reassigning approximately 7,000 employees to new units like the Applied AI Engineering team. This restructuring aims to create a flatter and more agile organizational structure.
Zuckerberg informed staff in an internal memo that no further layoffs are expected in 2026. The reduction helps fund substantial AI infrastructure spending while protecting operating margins. This move reflects a broader trend of AI-driven restructuring across the technology sector.