WASHINGTON (CNN) – As the countdown to a government shutdown continues, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has sent notice to federal agencies to start preparing and sharing contingency plans if the government does shutdown come Friday.

In an email obtained by CNN, OMB Deputy Director for Management Jeffrey Zients tells agency officials that “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.  The memo was sent Monday afternoon to all Deputy Secretaries and Chiefs of Staff, according to a government official. 

While the details of such contingency plans remain unclear, Zients encourages agency officials in the memo to communicate with senior managers throughout each organization “on the logistical and managerial issues” related to a potential shutdown. “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,” writes Zients.  FULL POST