Government Shutdown Would Shutter Van Nuys Federal Building Offices

The federal government shutdown looming on Saturday would close operations at the James C. Corman Federal Building in Van Nuys.

With tax returns due in just over a week, the Internal Revenue Service office inside the building, at 6230 Van Nuys Blvd., usually gets a large crowd of people looking for last-minute tax advice and picking up tax forms.

"We will close if the government shuts down," said Michelle Brake, an employee of the IRS at the Corman Federal Building.

"People can still get tax forms online, but we won't be here to answer questions if there is a shutdown," Brake said.

The mailing out of tax refund checks will also grind to a halt.

This year, the tax filing deadline has been extended to midnight April 18 due to the Emancipation Day holiday, even though all states do not observe the day.

Offices at the Corman Federal Building that handle passports and immigration issues will also be closed.

Employees at the U.S. Postal Service post office on Van Nuys Boulevard say they have not been told what their status will be if there is a government shutdown.

It's unclear if the post office buildings will remain open for people who rent postal boxes.

Social Security checks will continue to be sent out, but government financed mortgage loan applications will not be processed. Action on small business loans will also be stopped.

With thousands of federal employees expected to be furloughed, the impact on the fragile economic recovery is also concerning officials. People who live paycheck to paycheck will have to curtail their spending.

"If there is a shutdown, it will have very real effects on the services the American people rely on, as well as the economy as a whole," Jeffrey Zients, deputy director for management at the Office of Management and Budget, told reporters at the White House.

Reports out of Washington claim that the only federal employees who will continue working will be people involved in national security and essential services.

Many workers reportedly are still waiting to find out if they are considered essential.