By Ariana Perez-Castells, The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS)

The federal government shut down as of 12:01 a.m. Wednesday , and federal workers are among the first to bear the brunt.

The current shutdown could look different from those of the past. President Donald Trump’s administration has directed federal agencies to prepare layoff plans separate from the temporary furloughs that typically take place when Congress fails to reach an agreement on how to fund the government.

The threat of a government shutdown has become a frequent occurrence in recent years , noted Philip Glover, national vice president for the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) District 3, which represents federal employees in Philadelphia. Each time, as the funding deadline approaches, it leaves fe

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