WGN layoffs: WGN TV Chicago layoffs cut at least eight on-air jobs as newsroom reshapes

A new round of WGN layoffs hit Chicago television this week, with WGN TV Chicago layoffs removing a significant group of familiar on-air faces from the station’s newsroom and weather bench. The cuts, carried out Monday, Feb. 23, 2026 (ET), have stirred concern among viewers and industry staff about the pace of cost-cutting in local TV and what it means for daily newscasts.

The station’s owner cited “unprecedented change” in the media business as the driver of the moves, reflecting ongoing pressure from shifting ad markets and audience migration to streaming and social platforms.

WGN layoffs: what happened and when

The latest WGN layoffs were executed on Feb. 23, 2026 (ET), and centered heavily on on-air roles. Public reporting and staff statements indicate at least eight on-air people were let go, with some tallies reaching nine depending on whether a recent weather contract non-renewal is included as part of the same reduction.

The timing and scale have drawn attention because they follow earlier reductions in behind-the-scenes positions over recent months, a pattern that has become common across many local stations as groups attempt to reduce costs while maintaining news output.

WGN TV Chicago layoffs: who was affected

The WGN TV Chicago layoffs included a mix of anchors, reporters, and specialty roles that viewers associate with signature segments and long-running broadcasts. Several individuals had years—some decades—of station history and deep familiarity with the market.

Here is a snapshot of the names most widely associated with this round of WGN TV Chicago layoffs:

In addition to the personal impact on those leaving, the departures create immediate programming questions: how the station fills anchor chairs, which beats get reassigned, and whether certain segments or specialty coverage are scaled back.

WGN layoffs: why this round stands out in Chicago

Chicago has long been one of the country’s most competitive local news markets, where audience loyalty can hinge on personalities as much as story selection. That’s why the visibility of these WGN layoffs matters: trimming on-air positions is often felt more sharply by viewers than back-end reductions, even if both influence output.

The size of this move also stands out because it concentrates on recognizable roles across multiple dayparts and content lanes—general news, sports, entertainment, politics, and weather—rather than narrowing to a single show or shift.

WGN TV Chicago layoffs and the broader Nexstar strategy

The station is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which has expanded aggressively over the past decade and now operates a large portfolio of local stations nationwide. The company and its peers face a shared set of challenges: soft or volatile local advertising, higher production costs, and increased competition for attention from digital-first outlets.

In that context, WGN TV Chicago layoffs fit a familiar playbook used across local media groups: reduce payroll, consolidate roles, and lean more heavily on multi-skilled staff who can report, shoot, and produce across platforms. The tradeoff is risk to depth—especially on specialized beats—and risk to brand identity when long-tenured faces exit quickly.

What viewers can expect next after WGN layoffs

In the near term, viewers may notice more frequent anchor rotations, restructured segment lineups, and a greater reliance on general-assignment reporting. Weather and politics coverage could also look different if remaining teams are asked to cover broader territory with fewer dedicated specialists.

What happens next will likely depend on three practical factors:

1. Whether additional cuts follow in the coming days or weeks

2. How quickly replacements or internal promotions are made

3. Whether the station adjusts its newscast hours, formats, or segment priorities to match staffing levels

For now, the headline is clear: WGN layoffs and WGN TV Chicago layoffs have reshaped a recognizable roster in one of America’s biggest media markets, and the full impact will be measured in the weeks ahead as schedules settle and coverage priorities evolve.