Staffing Shortages Force Long-term Closure of Milton‑Freewater DMV Office Starting Aug. 27
On August 12, 2025, the Oregon Department of Transportation announced that ongoing staffing challenges will force the Oregon DMV to shut down its Milton‑Freewater field office at 295 N. Columbia Street for an extended period beginning Tuesday, Aug. 27. The small office currently operates only two days a week and does not offer drive tests. It employs just two people; one is retiring and cannot be replaced because of a statewide hiring freeze, and the other will transfer to the Pendleton DMV so that office can remain open. According to the DMV, the closure is expected to last well into 2026 and will not be lifted until funding and staff levels improve.
In the announcement, DMV Administrator Amy Joyce explained that the agency has been severely understaffed for years. Oregon’s transportation funding crisis and legal limits on hiring have left many DMV positions vacant even as the state’s population has grown by more than 800 000 people in the past quarter century. “This ongoing staffing challenge causes last‑minute closures of many offices with little to no warning,” Joyce said. She urged customers to be patient with local DMV staff as the agency works on long‑term solutions.
Customers in Umatilla County can still access in‑person services at the Pendleton and Hermiston DMV offices. A third‑party tester in Milton‑Freewater continues to offer Class C drive tests. However, DMV officials recommend completing DMV business online whenever possible. The DMV’s DMV2U portal (dmv2u.oregon.gov) offers more than 20 common transactions, including renewing or replacing a driver license or identification card, updating an address, and ordering records. Self‑service DMV Express kiosks in some Fred Meyer stores allow people to renew or replace vehicle registration and stickers without visiting an office. Every transaction completed outside a field office frees up a spot for someone who needs in‑person service.
Some services still require an office visit, such as adding the federal REAL ID option. Before visiting, customers should schedule an appointment online through DMV2U. New appointment slots are released daily, thirty days in advance. If you need to drop in, arrive early and understand that service cannot be guaranteed without an appointment. Always check the office’s status at OregonDMV.com before driving to a location to ensure it is open. For further details, read the official closure notice at Elkhorn Media Group (https://elkhornmediagroup.com/milton-freewater-dmv-will-close-indefinitely/).