News Wrap: Trump orders Pentagon to use ‘all available funds’ to pay troops amid shutdown

In our news wrap Saturday, Trump directed the Defense Department to ensure U.S. troops are paid on time as the government shutdown continues, authorities said there are no survivors from Friday’s blast that leveled a Tennessee explosives plant, and actor and producer Diane Keaton died at age 79.

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John Yang:

Good evening. I'm John Yang. It's day 11 of the government shutdown and there are still no signs of efforts to end the congressional stalemate that's blocking federal funding. President Trump says he's directed the Defense Department to use all available funds to make sure U.S. troops are paid on time on Wednesday.

Tomorrow, the Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo will close as they run out of the unspent prior year funds they've been using to keep the doors open. The president's trying to increase pressure on Democrats, saying he'll pick and choose which furloughed workers get back pay and slash programs Democrats care about.

The administration is also moving ahead with plans for mass firings. On Friday, federal workers began receiving notices telling them that they'll be laid off in 60 days. The administration says that more than 4,100 workers will be fired across seven agencies, the moves being challenged in court.

Authorities say there are no survivors from a blast that leveled an explosives plant in Tennessee, Friday. They say it's not clear yet how many people died, though earlier they said 18 people were missing. Actress and producer Diane Keaton has died. PBS News has confirmed.

Over her long career, she won acclaim for roles in films as varied as "The Godfather" and "Annie Hall," for which she won an Academy award. Keaton was 79 years old.

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