Meta has dismissed around 20 employees for leaking internal information, the company confirmed on Thursday, amid mounting scrutiny over CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s political realignment toward US President Donald Trump.
The layoffs, first reported by The Verge, follow an internal investigation into confidential information being shared outside the company. Meta warned that further terminations could follow.
“We take this seriously and will continue to take action when we identify leaks,” a company spokesperson stated.
The crackdown comes as Zuckerberg reportedly becomes less open with employees, citing frustrations over repeated leaks. In a leaked meeting, he told staff, “We try to be really open, and then everything I say leaks. It sucks.”
Since Trump’s election victory in November, Zuckerberg has notably shifted closer to the Republican leader. He has dined with Trump, eased content moderation policies, shut down Facebook’s US fact-checking program, and appointed Trump allies to key positions, including UFC president Dana White to Meta’s board.
Zuckerberg’s political pivot aligns with a broader trend among tech leaders moving towards Trump. In a recent Joe Rogan Experience podcast appearance, he criticized corporate culture for being “culturally neutered” and praised masculine energy as “good.”
With Meta’s internal tensions growing and its leadership restructuring to reflect conservative values, the company is navigating a politically charged landscape ahead of the next presidential term.
