Sequester tracker: The first week

Despite dire warnings from President Obama and some of his cabinet officials, the sequester's budget cuts have had very little immediate impact on the day-to-day lives of the average American - yet. One week into the sequester, it's becoming clear that long-term, there will be a noticable impact among government workers and Americans who use government services.

Here are some areas already feeling hunger pangs from the budgetary crash diet - and some that managed to escape the fast so far.

Sequester tracker: The first week

The White House

The White House announced this week that visitor tours would be canceled beginning March 9.

"We very much regret having to take this action, particularly during the popular Spring touring season," an email from the White House Visitors Office read.

One thing spared from the sequester's reach: The annual Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House. Press Secretary Jay Carney on Thursday said the event, scheduled for April 1, is still on "as of now." The likened the tradition's survival to the "choices you make all the time" about budgeting.

Sequester tracker: The first week

U.S. Capitol

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, mocked the White House for cancelling its tours, telling reporters yesterday that visitors to Washington, D.C., this spring should head to the U.S. Capitol.

"We'd love to have the American people come to visit their Capitol," Boehner said. "Even though our budget's been cut like everyone else's, thanks to proper planning, we're able to avoid furloughs among the Capitol workers and tours will remain available for all Americans."

Meantime, days before sequestration was set to begin, Boehner told his caucus in a closed-door meeting that as long as the cuts are in place, his members are prohibited from using military aircraft for official travel, with the exception of oversight trips to North Africa Bloomberg. Lawmakers traditionally use the planes on oversight trips to areas where the U.S. military is involved.

Aides, reporters and visitors to the Hill, too, will notice at least one change: Several entrance doors and exterior checkpoints are expected to close next week, and posts both inside and outside the Capitol Visitors Center (CVC) and office buildings will likely be shortened.

• U.S. Capitol official: Obama wrong on janitors' pay cuts

Fewer posts or not, though, Capitol employees like janitors and security guards won't notice any change in their paychecks. Despite President Obama's mistaken claim Friday that "all the folks who are cleaning the floors of the Capitol... they just got a pay cut," the pay and benefits" of EACH of our employees WILL NOT be impacted," Carlos Elias, superintendent of the U.S. Capitol building and the CVC, assured in an email to his staff.

Sequester tracker: The first week

The Pentagon

Members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff paint a dire picture of construction projects on hold, limits on aircraft carriers patrolling the waters and even a delay in the expansion of Arlington National Cemetery, the AP reports. About 800,000 Defense Department civilians face furloughs.

Veterans' funerals at Arlington could be cut to 24 a day from 31. Troops killed in action in Afghanistan will be the priority; they usually are laid to rest within two weeks. Beginning in April, the Army will cancel maintenance at depots, which will force 5,000 layoffs, and it also will let go more than 3,000 temporary and contract employees.

Football games and air shows will have to find a new group of flyboys to thrill their audiences: Beginning April 1, all performances by the Air Force Thunderbirds are cancelled through September. Forced by the sequester to lob off of its budget the $10 million the group requires annually for airlift, travel, marketing and other operating expenses, Time reports, the Air Force has grounded its famous squadron of zipping, winding F-16s. 

The 130-person team had been booked at more than 60 demonstrations at 38 locations between March and November. The fate of other such groups - like the Navy's Blue Angels - is yet to be determined.

Sequester tracker: The first week

Customs and Border Protection

Three days after the sequester officially took hold of the budget, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano sounded the alarm for travelers who she said would already be seeing customs lines at airports double their normal length. Last Saturday, according to the Customs and Border Protection agency (CBP), some wait times exceeded three hours at the country's top two international gateway airports - John F. Kennedy International (JFK) in New York, and Miami International (MIA) - due to overtime cuts.

The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, however, that "officials representing a dozen major airports said there were few if any unusual flight delays or lines at security or customs checkpoints." That included an official at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York, which is one of the two airports that had been specifically cited by Customs and Border Protection.

• The sky isn't falling - yet - despite WH sequester message

Starting April 21, the impact should be clearer. On Thursday, the CBP issued furlough notices to thousands of employees, Government Executive reports. From April 21 through the end of September, full-time employees will be furloughed up to 14 workdays, and part-time employees will have their furlough time pro-rated.

Sequester tracker: The first week

Transportation Security Administration

Although there has not been an immediate impact on airport security lines, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said they expect longer lines in the coming months.

Beginning next month, the TSA - which runs security checkpoints and baggage - will impose a hiring freeze that could leave 1,000 vacancies by Memorial Day and as many as 2,600 by the end of the fiscal year in September.

"With TSA staffing levels decreasing over time, we expect that during busy travel periods wait times exceeding 30-40 minutes could double at nearly all of the largest airports," a TSA spokesperson said. "In addition, passengers who schedule their travel outside of peak flight schedules and plan to arrive close to their scheduled flight time may see their wait times now reach 30 minutes or more."

Sequester tracker: The first week

Federal Aviation Administration

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced this week that beginning in early April it will implement furloughs for each of its employees one to two days a month. With fewer air traffic controllers manning towers, flights will be reduced and landings delayed.

FAA officials have said they expect to eliminate overnight shifts by air traffic controllers in more than 60 airport towers and close more than 100 towers at smaller airports, according to the AP. But information posted online by the agency shows 72 airports that could lose midnight shifts and 238 airports whose towers could be closed.

"Worse," the FAA said in a statement, the agency intends to close many air traffic control towers around the country, leaving airports to rely on pilots communicating their positions via airport radio frequency

Sequester tracker: The first week

U.S. Department of Agriculture

The AP reports that meat and poultry inspectors at the Agriculture Department initially were told they might be furloughed for 11 consecutive days between June and July, possibly leading to a meat supply shortage and higher prices. But Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack backed away from that at a House hearing this week, telling lawmakers that the furloughs would not be consecutive after all.

"Furloughs are going to cause disruption," USDA spokeswoman Courtney Rowe said Wednesday. "We're looking to do it in ways that cause the minimum impact."

Sequester tracker: The first week

Environmental Protection Agency, Justice Department

To meet its mandated $425 million cut, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will furlough its employees for as many as 13 days between April and September.

A March 1 memo from acting EPA administrator Bob Perciasepe said beginning April 4, each agency staffer must take four unpaid furlough days before June, after which will follow an assessment to determine if as many as nine additional furlough days will be required up to the end of the fiscal year in September.

Meantime, the Justice Department sent a memo this week to its workers telling them to expect 14 furlough days between the end of this month and the end of September.