If the U.S. Government shuts down at midnight today, the effects in Vicksburg will be:

• Gates at the Vicksburg National Military Park and the Visitors Center will remain locked.

• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers:

— Vicksburg District employees will report to work as usual until told otherwise by senior leaders in Washington, said spokesman Kavanaugh Breazeale.

— Mississippi Valley Division employees will report to work as usual until told otherwise, said chief of public affairs Bob Anderson.

— Engineer Research and Development Center officials are awaiting specific instructions later today, but are expected to be reporting for work as usual Monday morning. If a shutdown occurs, further instructions will be given then, according to an ERDC press release.

— Contract workers, many of whom are working on projects that have already been funded, have been instructed to report for work on Monday to be briefed about their status, according to a defense press release.

• All military personnel, including local Coast Guard officials, will continue to work, but paychecks will not be forthcoming until operations resume.

• The U.S. Postal Service will continue regular operating hours; mail will be delivered.

• Passport and visa applications will not be processed.

• The Internal Revenue Service will suspend processing tax returns, payments and refunds, but taxpayers are still required to file tax returns postmarked by April 18.

• Federal Aviation Agency employees essential to safe flights will continue to work; non-critical safety functions and administrative offices will be suspended.

• Medicare payments would reportedly continue to be made, at least for a time.

• Social Security Administration is expected to continue issuing checks.

• The United States Department of Agriculture office on Sherman Avenue would not open Monday morning, with services not available to the public until the budget is resolved, said Rob Riggin, Warren County executive director.

• National Weather Service meteorologists will report to work as usual, with forecasts, watches and warnings continuing to be issued, but paychecks will be held until resolution.

• The G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Veterans’ Affairs Medical Center in Jackson will continue operating.

• Staff members at the Americorps NCCC campus on Confederate Avenue are asked to report for work Monday morning to begin an operations shutdown; corps members would be returned to campus over the weekend, and a small number of staff would be retained on site to assist them as necessary.