Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro Cuts Hundreds of Jobs in Third 2026 Wave

CEO Josh D’Amaro implemented a new wave of layoffs on July 21, 2026, eliminating several hundred jobs across The Walt Disney Company. The cuts target corporate operations, ESPN, Disney Entertainment Television, Disney Studios, and National Geographic as part of a "one Disney" organizational strategy to streamline operations and foster a more agile, tech-focused workforce.

Pixar was among the hardest-hit divisions, with losses estimated between 100 and 150 employees, primarily in production and operations. Executives attributed the Pixar reductions to a strategic shift prioritizing quality over volume and the commercial underperformance of original films like Elio and Hoppers, which earned $389.5 million against a $150 million budget. These cuts occurred despite the success of sequels such as Toy Story 5, which grossed nearly $1 billion. At ESPN, layoffs included prominent figures Cam Newton and Ryan Clark following the network's acquisition of NFL Network.

This represents the third round of workforce reductions this year. Previous cuts occurred in January, targeting marketing, and in April, which impacted over 1,000 employees including Marvel's visual development team.