Meta Layoffs May 20 2026: Who Got Cut, Severance Details, and What to Do Now

# Meta Layoffs May 20 2026: Who Got Cut, Severance Details, and What to Do Now

> **Quick answer:** Meta began laying off approximately 8,000 employees — 10% of its global workforce — on May 20, 2026. The hardest-hit teams are Reality Labs, Facebook social, recruiting, sales, and global operations. US severance is 16 weeks of base pay plus two additional weeks per year of service, with 18 months of COBRA healthcare paid by Meta. If you were notified today, your WARN period (60 days in California, 90 days in New York) means you are still technically employed — and those days matter for RSU vesting and 401(k) contributions.

Execution Day is here. Meta's 8,000-person layoff — the largest single-round reduction the company has attempted since its 2023 restructuring — began rolling out on May 20, 2026. If you received a notification this morning, or if you know someone who did, this article is the complete factual breakdown: which teams were cut, exactly how the severance math works, what the WARN period means for your money, and the specific steps to take in the next 72 hours.

## Which Meta Teams Were Cut on May 20, 2026?

The May 20 round is not a targeted product cut — it is a company-wide structural reorganisation converting Meta from a broad workforce into a leaner AI-focused operation. Based on confirmed reporting, the teams bearing the heaviest impact are:

**Reality Labs (VR/AR division):** Reality Labs has been a recurring target across Meta's 2026 restructuring rounds. The unit has absorbed cuts in January and March before today's wave. Headcount in AR/VR hardware and content development faces significant reduction as Meta pivots away from metaverse investment toward AI infrastructure.