Throughout the discussions about funding for the rest of the fiscal year, the President has made it clear that he wants to avoid a government shutdown. In the face of tough choices, the goal has always been to maintain core services and ensure that the important work done by the EPA and other Federal agencies continues uninterrupted. That is why the Administration has been working day and night to find a solution on which all sides can agree — work that continues today. Given the realities of the calendar, however, prudent management requires that we plan for an orderly shutdown should Congress be unable to pass a funding bill by Friday of this week.

Even if Congressional negotiators reach a deal by the end of the week on a budget resolution that would last through the fiscal year, the government could still shut down, at least for a short period of time.

While leaders in both parties continue to debate everything from how much money to cut from current spending levels to which programs should get the ax, there remains some dispute over the procedural process to pass the final bill.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/52664.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/06/government-shutdown-budget-deal_n_845694.html