Gov. Phil Murphy's administration put state agencies on notice Friday that they should prepare for a government shutdown if a budget isn't signed by the June 30 deadline.
The letter to Murphy's cabinet members, obtained by NJ Advance Media, outlined a shutdown contingency plan. It was sent shortly after top staffers in the Senate and Assembly met with Murphy's senior staff.
The meeting was hostile, according to three sources with knowledge of the event who would only speak on the condition of anonymity. It ended with an exchange of expletives.
Shortly thereafter, Murphy's chief counsel, Matthew Platkin, ordered state agencies to submit their shutdown contingency plans to the governor by noon on June 11.