By Stacy M. Brown Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

The nation is bracing for a government shutdown unlike any in its history. At the center stands President Donald Trump, who has declared that if Congress cannot keep the government open, federal workers may not just be furloughed — they may be permanently fired.

“We are going to cut a lot of the people that … we’re able to cut on a permanent basis,” Trump told NBC News. “I’d rather not do that.” Traditionally, shutdowns have meant furloughs followed by back pay when the government reopens. Trump’s directives are different. The White House Office of Management and Budget has told agencies to treat the closure as an “opportunity” to reduce staff. “Federal employees are not bargaining chips. They are veterans, caregivers, law e

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