(MENAFN) Speaker Mike Johnson announced on Friday that the U.S. House of Representatives will not fully reconvene until the ongoing government shutdown is resolved.

He emphasized that lawmakers are currently “working diligently in their district, serving their constituents,” and added, “We will come back here and get back to legislative to legislative session as soon as the Senate Democrats turn the lights back on. That's the fact. That’s where we are.”

His statement was made during the tenth day of the federal government’s closure.

The Speaker’s comments followed another unsuccessful attempt by the U.S. Senate to move forward with spending legislation—marking the seventh such failure to end the deadlock.

In a separate media briefing, Senate Majority Whip John Thune shared that five additional Democratic votes were required to pass the GOP-backed resolution previously approved by the House.

“It’s really time for the Senate Democrats to show a little courage and put the American people ahead of their far less activist base, they have a simple choice in front of them. Open up the government,” he said, urging Democrats to prioritize the nation’s needs.

When questioned about the possibility of a meeting with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Thune dismissed the idea and accused Schumer of being “checked out” in the ongoing efforts to reach a compromise.

“I don’t think this is going to happen – I think this is going to happen organically, with enough reasonable Senate Democrats who care enough about doing the right thing for their country, and not what’s in the best interest of their left-wing political chiefs, to come forward and help us find a solution, and those conversations continue,” Thune added.

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