Amazon has confirmed a fresh wave of layoffs affecting around 16,000 employees globally, following the accidental circulation of an internal email that revealed the cuts before any official announcement. The message, seen by the BBC, was briefly sent to staff late Tuesday and referenced job losses across the United States, Canada, and Costa Rica as part of an ongoing effort to “strengthen the company.”
The email was quickly withdrawn, suggesting it had been shared prematurely. However, by early Wednesday, Amazon publicly acknowledged the redundancies, framing them as part of a broader restructuring plan aimed at removing bureaucracy and streamlining operations. The company employs roughly 1.5 million people worldwide, with about 350,000 in corporate and technology-focused roles.
Beth Galetti, Amazon’s senior vice president of people experience and technology, said the company was not planning to carry out “broad reductions every few months.” She explained that while many teams completed their restructuring during the 14,000 job cuts announced in October, others only finalized changes more recently—resulting in the current round of layoffs.
Behind the scenes, the layoffs were already widely anticipated. According to a former Amazon employee, internal expectations had long pointed to a total reduction of roughly 30,000 roles. The October cuts accounted for nearly half of that figure, with this new round seen as a continuation rather than a surprise. Additional redundancies are expected to roll out gradually through the end of May.
The internal email at the center of the controversy was reportedly authored by Colleen Aubrey, a senior vice president at Amazon Web Services (AWS). It appeared in a calendar invitation titled “Send Project Dawn email”—a reference to the internal codename for the restructuring initiative. The message emphasized reducing management layers, increasing accountability, and enabling teams to move faster in serving customers.
“These decisions are difficult and made thoughtfully,” the draft email stated, underscoring Amazon’s intention to position both the broader organization and AWS for long-term success. Employees affected by the cuts were encouraged to apply for other open roles within the company, though available positions were limited. Those unable to transition received severance packages tied to their length of service.
The latest layoffs come amid a cultural and strategic shift under CEO Andy Jassy, who took over from founder Jeff Bezos four years ago. Jassy has overseen multiple rounds of cost-cutting while pushing for a stricter corporate culture. Amazon now requires employees to work in the office five days a week, setting it apart from many tech peers that continue to embrace hybrid or remote models.
Cost discipline has also intensified. Reports suggest Amazon is scrutinizing even relatively small expenses, such as mobile phone reimbursements for AWS staff, as part of its broader effort to tighten spending. In a pre-Thanksgiving email to employees, Jassy described the current moment as “a time to rethink everything we’ve ever done,” citing the rapid pace of global change.
Earlier this week, Amazon also announced plans to close its remaining Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go grocery stores, pivoting instead toward expanding its Whole Foods Market footprint—a move that further signals a sharper focus on efficiency and core business lines.
