Walmart planning to cut nearly 1,500 jobs to simplify operations, report says

BENTONVILLE, Ark. (KNWA) — Walmart is planning to eliminate nearly 1,500 jobs in a restructuring effort designed to cut expenses and to speed decision-making, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal.

A notice sent to Walmart's U.S. employees and obtained by Nexstar's KNWA said the company plans to reshape its global technology operations, the e-commerce fulfillment managers that support U.S. stores, and Walmart Connect, its advertising business.

“We are eliminating roles as well as opening some new roles aligned with our business priorities and growth strategy,” the notice from Walmart U.S. CEO John Furner and Suresh Kumar, global chief technology officer, said.

A Walmart spokesperson told Axios that those affected by the job cuts will remain employed through August.

Furner and Kumar said in the notice that they are working closely with those affected on their next step, including opportunities within Walmart, "where applicable."

The announcement comes after Walmart released its first-quarter earnings last week, beating its estimates but missing its sales goal. The company said in its earnings report that it planned to raise prices on some items due to the impact of tariffs, a move that drew ire from President Donald Trump.

Trump later said in a social media post that Walmart should "EAT THE TARIFFS." Walmart responded to Trump's comment, saying it would "keep prices as low as we can for as long as we can."

A Walmart spokesperson told Axios that the move to cut the nearly 1,500 jobs was unrelated to tariffs, but it "[reflects] a focus on business priorities and our growth strategy."

According to Talk Business & Politics, Walmart employs around 15,000 workers at its offices in Bentonville, Arkansas, with the projected cuts representing around 10% of its local workforce.

Earlier this year, Walmart announced nearly 500 employees from one of its New Jersey offices were being either relocated to Northwest Arkansas or laid off.

Last year, the retailer announced it was cutting hundreds of jobs in its global tech units. Walmart also said the majority of work-from-home employees were being asked to move to Bentonville and some to their San Francisco or Hoboken, New Jersey, offices.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.