Recommended Free Tools
iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
The Washington Post plans to permanently close its 46-year-old printing plant at 7171 Wimsatt Road in Springfield, Virginia, eliminating 118 jobs. The closure is scheduled to take effect on December 31, 2026, according to the Virginia Works WARN notice filed October 7, 2026. Printing is being moved to a smaller leased facility in Sterling near the Loudoun Gateway and Dulles area, where the company is installing a new press.
What is happening at the Springfield plant?
The Post’s Springfield operation will shut permanently after more than four decades. The facility opened in 1980 and occupies part of a property larger than 40 acres, with approximately 500,000 square feet devoted to printing operations.
Virginia’s WARN database lists the closure as affecting 118 employees. The notice identifies December 31, 2026, as the impact date and October 7, 2026, as the notice date. Wayne Connell, the Post’s chief human resources officer, said in the closure notice that the action would “unfortunately result in the separation of various employees” and that the company expects it to be permanent.
Why is The Washington Post relocating printing?
The company and coverage of the project describe the relocation as both a cost-reduction measure and a modernization effort. The Post is moving production to a smaller leased building in Sterling, in the Dulles-area corridor, and installing a new press there. The stated objective is to make printing more efficient while continuing to produce a print edition.
#1 Best Overall
The Post previously said the move from Springfield should be completed by January 2027. That target follows the WARN impact date by only a few weeks, so the transition involves overlapping closure and commissioning work rather than a long pause in production.
Which jobs are affected?
The 118 WARN-listed positions span the plant’s technical, production, facilities and circulation functions:
- Building engineers and machinists
- Press operators
- Janitors and maintenance workers
- Circulation drivers
- Occupational health nurses
Some affected employees are represented by unions. The WARN filing establishes the number of employees covered by the closure notice, but it does not identify how many will ultimately leave the company, transfer, retire or move into other roles.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Will Springfield workers transfer to Sterling?
The final transfer count is not established. A source cited by TheWrap said roughly half of the Springfield plant’s overall workforce is relocating, but that estimate cannot be converted into a confirmed number for the 118 employees listed in the WARN notice. The affected group includes jobs tied specifically to the old site, and the new facility’s smaller footprint and different equipment may change staffing needs.
Until the Post publishes a final staffing plan or the relevant unions and employees receive definitive notices, it is not possible to say how many of the 118 workers will report to Sterling. The WARN total should therefore be read as the number of jobs covered by the closure notice, not as a confirmed headcount of permanent layoffs after transfers.
Where will The Washington Post print its newspapers?
Printing is moving to the leased Sterling facility near Loudoun Gateway and Dulles. The new site is smaller than the Springfield plant and is being equipped with a new press. The Post has not publicly established the facility’s exact square footage, final staffing level or production capacity in the information available for this announcement.
Relocating within Northern Virginia keeps production in the region while replacing an aging, large-scale plant with a more compact operation. The move is intended to preserve print production rather than end the newspaper’s printed edition.
How has print circulation changed since the plant opened?
The Springfield plant began operating when the Post’s Sunday print circulation was about 1.3 million. By 2025, Alliance for Audited Media figures put the paper’s paid print circulation at 97,000 daily and 160,000 on Sunday.
| Measure | Figure | Period or context |
|---|---|---|
| Springfield plant opening | 1980 | The facility’s first year of operation |
| Sunday print circulation | About 1.3 million | At the time the plant opened |
| Daily paid print circulation | 97,000 | 2025 Alliance for Audited Media figure |
| Sunday paid print circulation | 160,000 | 2025 Alliance for Audited Media figure |
| Springfield property assessment | $38 million | Assessment cited while the company considered a sale |
The circulation figures help explain why a facility built for a much larger print audience is being replaced by a smaller plant. They do not, by themselves, determine the number of jobs eliminated: staffing also depends on press technology, schedules, distribution routes, maintenance requirements and the work transferred to Sterling.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What happens to the Springfield property?
The Post said it was considering selling the Springfield property, which was assessed at $38 million. A sale decision, buyer and timetable were not established in the closure information. The site includes the printing building and more than 40 acres of land.
Quick Recap
What readers should watch next
- Whether the Post announces the Sterling plant’s operating start date and production schedule.
- How many of the 118 WARN-listed employees receive transfer offers.
- Any union agreements or transition terms for represented workers.
- Whether the Springfield property is marketed or sold after production ends.
- Any changes to delivery timing or print-distribution routes during the move.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches
