OMB holds shutdown calls ‘over abundance of caution’

Budget

OMB holds shutdown calls ‘over abundance of caution’

As a matter of "caution," the Office of Management and Budget discussed shutdown contingencies with agencies today as Congress continues to debate a bipartisan ...

Michael O'Connell@moconnellWFED

December 11, 2014 5:24 pm

2 min read

The Office of Management and Budget conducted two conference calls with agencies over the last week, including one today, to discuss contingency plans in case Congress fails to pass a spending bill by the time funding runs out Friday, at 12:01 a.m., according to an OMB official.

“Congress is taking a series of actions today on legislation that would prevent a lapse in appropriations and allow for continued Government operations,” an OMB official told Federal News Radio. “We continue to believe that time remains for Congress to pass full-year appropriations for FY 2015, and prevent a government shutdown. However, out of an abundance of caution, we are working with agencies and taking steps to prepare for all contingencies, including a potential lapse in funding.”

The House is expected to vote Thursday evening on a $1.1 trillion spending deal hammered out by Republican and Democratic negotiators. But, by late afternoon, that vote has not occurred. The Senate needs time to debate and vote on the measure before the early morning deadline. President Barack Obama has said he would sign the bipartisan legislation.

OMB held the call because Circular A-11 requires the advanced planning. A-11 provides guidance in the event of an absence of appropriations. OMB updated the document last August with lessons-learned from the October 2013 government shutdown.

The spending legislation under consideration for FY 2015 would fund nearly all of the government through Sept. 30, 2015. The one exception to this “omnibus bill” is the Homeland Security Department, which would be funded through Feb. 27. This exception was negotiated by Republicans who hope to roll back the President’s immigration policy when the new Congress is in place.

In the event that Congress fails to pass the omnibus, legislators could instead pass a continuing resolution to fund the government for an indeterminate period of time and prevent a shutdown.

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