ODOT layoffs impact nearly 500 employees, largest in state government history, Gov. Kotek says
The notices arrived just a week after Oregon's legislative session ended . A second round of layoffs is expected to begin in early 2026.
Oregon House Republican leader Christine Drazan told KOIN 6 that ODOT's budget issues and price hikes
'We're talking about an agency that has a culture that refuses to stay within their budget and produce on behalf of Oregonians,' she said.
Travis Decker sighting reported in Idaho, US Marshal's office investigating
In total, the layoffs are expected to . According to Gov. Tina Kotek, this would mark the largest mass layoff in the history of Oregon state government.
'These layoffs constitute an emergency in Oregon's transportation system that will hurt every part of Oregon,' Kotek said in a statement Monday. 'While we sharpened our pencils to temper the pace of layoffs from one wave into two, there will not be enough workers to provide the level of response Oregonians rely on, whether it's filling a pothole or clearing a safe passage for evacuation when a fire strikes.'
Kotek said Oregon residents could see impacts to road maintenance and safety services — including road closures, graffiti and camp cleanups, and signage replacements — as early as this summer. In the winter, these cuts could impact how quickly snow and ice get removed from roads.
'I feel like they're not very prepared for a lot of severe weather, weather incidents,' said Oregon driver Anna Nelson. 'Roads around here aren't my favorite.'
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In response, Kotek has urged for adjustments within ODOT. A recently developed plan will likely cut purchases of certain materials like sand, delay vehicle replacements, and close fewer maintenance stations.
However, the future of ODOT remains uncertain — especially as winter approaches.
'This emergency was preventable, and we still have time to intervene. I have not and will not stop fighting for Oregonians who rely on us to keep our roads safe and people and products moving. Come winter, without a shared commitment to solve this crisis from partners and lawmakers, Oregonians will be left out in the cold – literally.'
Stay with KOIN 6 News as we continue to follow this story.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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