Oregon Department of Transportation Director Kris Strickler will leave the department Jan. 2, 2026, ODOT announced Nov. 12.

Gov. Tina Kotek will appoint Oregon Parks and Recreation Department Director Lisa Sumption to serve as interim ODOT director.

The announcement comes amid massive turmoil at the agency, which faced a $300 million budget hole for the 2025 to 2027 cycle, scrutiny over its accountability of public funds , a pending referendum effort over the recently passed $4.3 billion transportation package and narrowly avoided nearly 500 layoffs.

“The decision to leave ODOT did not come easily to me, but with funding for the maintenance and operations of our transportation system secured, now is the time for new leadership to lead ODOT’s next chapter,” Strickler said in a

See Full Page