Politics

Multnomah County shutters passport office due to budget shortfall

By Alex Zielinski (OPB)
June 20, 2025 1 p.m.
After this week, Multnomah County will no longer offer passport services. The passport office was one of several programs defunded in the county’s budget process.

After this week, Multnomah County will no longer offer passport services. The passport office was one of several programs defunded in the county’s budget process.

Jenny Kane / AP

Multnomah County will no longer be offering passport services after this weekend.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:

The program was one of many programs that county commissioners voted to cut in order to balance their budget.

Multnomah County entered budget season needing to fill a $77 million dollar shortfall. To offset some proposed cuts, Chair Jessica Vega Pederson suggested closing the county’s office that oversees passport applications and renewals. Her fellow commissioners agreed, voting to approve the final budget June 12.

The office cost just over $1 million dollars a year to run. According to county documents, it processed around 8,000 passports annually.

The office will shutter June 20.

People can still apply for a new or renewed passport at a number of post office locations across the county – or at Washington or Clackamas county offices.

The passport office was one of several programs completely defunded in the county’s budget process. Commissioners also cut funding for a new campaign finance program and a program that aimed to phase out gas-powered leaf blowers by 2028.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:
THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:

THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:

Related Stories

Multnomah County chair releases proposed budget

Multnomah County chair Jessica Vega Pederson released a proposed $4 billion budget plan this week. The budget includes cuts to several programs and over 100 positions. Vega Pederson spoke to Think Out Loud about her proposal.