Dan Eggen Found Dead at 60

Dan Eggen, a distinguished editor at The Washington Post, passed away at his home in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. He was 60 years old. Eggen was a significant figure in political journalism, and it’s a shock to many who knew him.

Local authorities informed the family that they did not suspect foul play in Eggen’s death, although the exact cause was still under investigation as of Wednesday morning.

Having spent nearly three decades at the paper, Eggen contributed greatly to the White House, Congress, and presidential campaign coverage. He played a role in the 2002 Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation into the events surrounding 9/11 and was also involved in work that garnered the same prestigious honor in 2016 for exposing Russian interference in U.S. elections. Most recently, he contributed to a project that focused on the storming of the U.S. Capitol in 2022.

Post editor-in-chief Matt Murray remarked on Eggen’s abilities, stating he was a “sharp editor with a keen sense of story.” He also emphasized how Eggen was a mentor to many political writers, highlighting his essential contributions to their reporting.

Just prior to his passing, Eggen was set to start a new position at NOTUS, a recently established D.C.-based news outlet. Tim Grieve, the site’s editor-in-chief, expressed sadness at the news, sharing how Eggen’s reputation as an outstanding editor preceded him. Many highly respected reporters had recommended him, and it seemed he was genuinely excited for this new chapter.

Josh Dorsey, a Wall Street Journal reporter and former colleague, reflected on Eggen’s remarkable work ethic, noting that Eggen was dedicated to his craft, often working seven days a week for long hours. He described Eggen as a vital part of the newsroom and one of its true pillars.

Ashley Parker, another former White House correspondent at The Washington Post, remembered him fondly as an incredibly supportive editor who had a unique ability to empower his staff. She mentioned that he often only made minor changes to their drafts, yet those tweaks vastly improved the final product.

Eggen started his journalistic career at The Washington Post as a subway reporter, later covering the Justice Department in the aftermath of 9/11 before rising through the ranks to become an editor.

He is survived by two children from his previous marriage to journalist Stephanie Armor and a sister. The newspaper has reached out to local police for additional information.