The capitol’s biggest newspaper will close news bureaus in three major cities at year’s end, according to Politico.

The Washington Post will withdraw its staff from New York, Chicago and Los Angeles by 2010. It should be noted, however, that the closed news bureaus do not represent large scale lay offs.

Executive editor Marcus Brauchli informed staff that “the reporters in those bureaus are being offered new roles here in Washington.” However, three news aides are being let go…

While it may be a sign of diminished prestige to close bureaus in three major American cities, the Post — like all metro dailies — is coping with the economic struggles in the newspaper industry in a way that management must feel is best to weather the storm.

In recent years, the Post has closed bureaus in Seattle, Denver, Austin and Miami, following a trend among large metro dailies. (The LA Times, however, continues to maintain bureaus in several major cities despite drastically cutting the newsroom in recent years).

The fall has seen some especially rough times at the post. The paper laid off a dozen staffers in November.