Joost de Valk Leaves Federated WordPress Project

Joost de Valk, the founder of Yoast SEO, has announced that he is stepping away from FAIR, a project supported by the Linux Foundation that aims to create an independent and federated repository for themes and plugins.

The FAIR project was launched in mid-2025 at a time of growing unrest within the WordPress community. Concerns escalated after Matt Mullenweg replaced WP Engine’s Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) plugin in the official WordPress repository with a forked version. At the same time, WP Engine and many of its customers were restricted from accessing the WordPress.org plugin and theme directories, along with related update services.

These actions drew heavy criticism and exposed what many saw as a structural weakness in the WordPress ecosystem: a reliance on a single, centralised repository. Developers, hosts and agencies raised concerns that this concentration of control created a “single point of failure”, leaving businesses and users vulnerable to decisions made by a small group of stakeholders.

In response, momentum grew behind the idea of decentralising the distribution of plugins and themes. The FAIR project emerged from this discussion, proposing a federated network of independent repositories rather than one central authority. The goal was to improve resilience, transparency and trust, while reducing dependence on a single platform.

Joost de Valk became a prominent advocate for this shift. He helped articulate why independent repositories were needed and worked with others to establish FAIR under a neutral governance structure. From the outset, FAIR was positioned not as a WordPress-only solution but as a wider answer to software supply chain challenges affecting open-source ecosystems more broadly.

Despite the strong technical and ethical case for FAIR, progress has been slowed by a lack of financial backing. In announcing his decision to step aside, de Valk explained that discussions with hosting companies and major players in the WordPress ecosystem had not resulted in meaningful investment.

He noted that while many organisations are uncomfortable with the current situation, they are hesitant to commit funds to a project like FAIR. Supporting it would require not only money but also a willingness to step into a politically sensitive space. According to de Valk, investment brings responsibility, long-term commitment and risk, and those factors have proven too great for most potential backers.

Although he did not directly name the source of the political tension, it is widely assumed that backing FAIR could be interpreted as taking sides in the dispute between Matt Mullenweg and WP Engine. For hosting providers and large businesses whose revenues depend on the WordPress ecosystem, this creates an uncomfortable position. Aligning with FAIR could be seen as a challenge to existing power structures, with potential commercial consequences.

Following de Valk’s announcement, the FAIR project released its own statement confirming that it will continue operating, even without his direct involvement. The group acknowledged that funding remains a significant obstacle but reaffirmed its broader mission.

FAIR’s leadership stressed that the issues it seeks to address are not limited to WordPress. Software supply chain security, decentralised distribution, trust, and verification are problems affecting the entire technology sector. These challenges are becoming more pressing as governments introduce new regulations focused on digital safety and accountability.

One key development highlighted by the FAIR team is the EU’s Cyber Resilience Act, which is due to come into force in 2027. This legislation will require stronger proof of software provenance, improved security scanning, and traceable update mechanisms. FAIR’s technical design, according to its creators, is already aligned with these requirements and could help organisations meet future compliance standards.

The project also made clear that it has not abandoned the WordPress community. Contributors, developers and ecosystem leaders are still encouraged to participate and help shape the platform. However, without strong support from hosting providers and large companies, FAIR’s growth may be slower and more cautious than originally hoped.

De Valk’s departure removes one of FAIR’s most visible and influential champions. His reputation within the WordPress world gave the project credibility and helped draw attention to the underlying issues of centralisation and governance. Without his public leadership, FAIR may struggle to maintain the same level of visibility, at least in the short term.

That said, some believe the project’s prospects could improve once the dispute between Mullenweg and WP Engine is resolved. If tensions ease, companies that were previously reluctant to engage may become more willing to support alternative distribution models. In that scenario, FAIR could regain momentum as a practical and neutral solution.

For now, FAIR continues as an independent initiative focused on long-term industry needs rather than short-term controversy. Its future will depend on whether the wider open-source community recognises the importance of decentralisation and supply chain security strongly enough to invest time, resources and trust into the project.

Joost de Valk’s decision marks a turning point for FAIR. While the project remains active, it enters a new phase without one of its founding voices. Whether FAIR can evolve into a sustainable and widely adopted platform will likely hinge on broader changes in the WordPress ecosystem and the growing regulatory pressure around software security in the years ahead.