Mark Zuckerberg is tightening the reins at Meta, announcing plans to lay off the bottom-performing 5% of employees—roughly 3,600 workers—as part of a strategy to refocus the company’s efforts on artificial intelligence and other future-forward projects.
The decision, revealed in an internal memo and reported by Bloomberg on Tuesday, signals a bold move to streamline the tech giant, which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Meta will replace the cut positions with new hires, aiming to inject fresh energy into key divisions.
Performance-Driven Layoffs
Zuckerberg framed the layoffs as a necessary step in an “intense year” where Meta’s focus will be on AI development, smart glasses, and redefining the future of social media. Employees affected by the cuts will receive “generous severance packages,” he assured.
“Approximately 5% of our workforce, who have been with us long enough to receive a performance evaluation, will be affected,” Zuckerberg explained. Meta, which employed 72,000 people as of September, will see these reductions while maintaining its overall workforce numbers through immediate rehiring.
Meta’s Controversial Shift
The announcement comes on the heels of Meta’s decision to end its U.S.-based fact-checking program, a move that has already sparked debate. Zuckerberg defended the decision, arguing that political bias among fact-checkers had “eroded public trust, particularly in the U.S.”
Critics see the move as a possible overture to President-elect Donald Trump, who will take office on January 20. Meta has faced scrutiny over its moderation practices and may be positioning itself to align with the incoming administration.
Meta’s Focus on the Future
As the company doubles down on AI and hardware innovation, Zuckerberg’s approach reflects an aggressive shift toward streamlining operations and shedding underperforming employees to better adapt to a rapidly changing tech landscape.
While Meta prepares for its next chapter, the bold strategy has reignited debates over corporate accountability, employee treatment, and the balance between innovation and stability in Silicon Valley.