It’s not just the House of Representatives.
In another sign that neither side in the spending cut fight is confident that a government shutdown can be avoided, the White House has ordered federal agencies to prep for a government shutdown.
Ed O’Keefe at the Washington Post obtained the memo from a federal official, and confirmed its authenticity with the Office of Management and Budget.
“[G]iven the realities of the calendar, good management requires that we continue contingency planning for an orderly shutdown should the negotiations not be completed by” April 8, the memo reads. More guidance should be forthcoming today. The development occurs just as House leadership is distributing guidance members of Congress about shutdown protocol.
Congressional leaders will meet with President Obama at the White House Tuesday in a last-ditch effort break the logjam and reach a spending deal before the end of the week. If an agreement isn’t reached, both sides are at the ready to blame the other for the shutdown.
