If Congress doesn’t pass the ongoing government funding resolution by Saturday, millions of federal workers could go into the holidays without a paycheck. You could be furloughed or asked to work without pay.

That includes some military personnel and other key government employees, such as TSA agents and air traffic controllers, just as the holiday travel craze begins.

Some federal government contractors are not guaranteed payback, such as: B. Federal employees, which could have devastating consequences for workers who live paycheck to paycheck.

Despite efforts to avert the shutdown, plans are still being made in case an agreement is not reached before Saturday’s deadline. The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has already been in touch with agencies about their plans in the event of a government shutdown, an OMB official told ABC News. The official said the first communication with authorities about their shutdown plans took place last Friday.

This communication is part of OMB’s statutory process and states that the office must “communicate with senior agency officials to remind agencies of their responsibilities to review and update plans for orderly closures” a week before the draft budget deadline. and “to share.” a draft communication template to inform employees of the status of funds.”

The procedure also requires the White House office to continue communicating with authorities ahead of an expected shutdown. The guidance states that agencies should notify their employees of the status of funding approximately two business days before the expected expiration of funding.

ABC News senior congressional correspondent Rachel Scott spoke with a federal contractor as a shutdown loomed last year. She said it took her months to recover financially from the 35-day government shutdown in 2018.

Lawmakers in Congress continue to negotiate a deal that would keep the government funded. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise told ABC News on Wednesday that lawmakers had a “productive” meeting late last night in House Speaker Mike Johnson’s office.

“We will continue to work throughout the night to reach an agreement that we can then bring to the table,” Scalise said, adding that he hoped the House could “find a solution” on Thursday.

Johnson’s original plan called for extending government spending at current levels through March and added other provisions such as aid for disaster victims and farmers and a pay raise for members of Congress. This plan is in jeopardy as President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk have pushed for Republicans not to accept this deal.

Trump has urged Republicans to address the debt limit before he takes office, saying if they don’t, “he’ll have to fight the Democrats ‘to the end.’

In a joint statement Wednesday afternoon, Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance called on Congress to “pass a streamlined spending bill that doesn’t give (Senate Majority Leader) Chuck Schumer and Democrats everything they want.”

ABC News’ Rachel Scott, Sarah Kolinovsky and Lauren Peller contributed to this report.