With the clock ticking towards Friday’s federal budget deadline and President Obama hosting congressional leaders for budget talks at the White House on Tuesday, top administration officials have instructed agency officials to begin sharing details of shutdown contingency plans with top managers. This marks the next step toward both curtailing government operations if a budget impasse occurs and informing federal workers whether they are considered “essential” personnel who would stay on the job despite a shutdown.

Though Obama and congressional leaders remain committed to avoiding a shutdown, “given the realities of the calendar, good management requires that we continue contingency planning for an orderly shutdown should the negotiations not be completed by” Friday at midnight, Office of Management and Budget Deputy Director Jeffrey Zients said in a memo. The message was sent to the government’s deputy secretaries and chiefs of staff, who handle day-to-day management issues for agencies and departments.

OMB confirmed the authenticity of the memo, which was obtained from a senior government official who provided it on condition of anonymity.

OMB — which is reviewing each agency’s shutdown plans — is still reviewing the contingency plans, and Zients encouraged officials to keep tweaking them as necessary. Senior political leaders at each agency should also start speaking with senior career managers “to ensure you have their feedback and input on plans to date.”

Zients said any discussions with senior managers “should be focused on the logistical and managerial issues related to a potential shutdown to ensure that managers are prepared to implement your shutdown plans should the need arise.”

“We know that the current uncertainty and threat of a shutdown is a tremendous burden on federal employees, and are very much aware that a shutdown – should it occur – would impose hardships on many employees,” the memo continued. “We are continuing to monitor the status of negotiations, and will work with you to best prepare the hard-working men and women of our workforce for any contingency.”

The administration plans to share more details on shutdown planning “no later than” Tuesday morning, according to the memo.

The new instructions come amid growing uncertainty and nervousness among federal employees and the union leaders who represent many of them.

The memo also signals the administration is listening to the guidance of Clinton-era government officials, who have cautioned in recent weeks that any preparations for a shutdown should be communicated in advance to avoid confusion in the ranks.

“We are aware of the calendar,” Kenneth Baer, a senior OMB official and spokesman, said Monday evening.

OMB said last week it would “absolutely communicate with the workforce” about shutdown contingency plans when deemed necessary.

It appears that hour has come.

(Source: Post Politics)