Feeling the pinch

CHICAGO (NBCNC) - Airline passengers are feeling the effects of Washington's budget cuts.

Longer lines greeted travelers at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport on Monday.

The Pentagon says it will furlough 15,000 military teachers and close commissaries one day a week.

At his first cabinet meeting this year, President Obama said families will be hurt.

"It's not the right way for us to go about deficit reduction," he said.

Republicans argue the administration is exaggerating the effect of the sequester cuts.

"Does anybody in this country believe that our federal government is so efficient and so effective that we cannot afford to trim two pennies out of every dollar?" asked Indiana Representative Luke Messer.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan backed off claims teachers are already getting pink slips Monday, but warned schools will suffer.

"Whether its to teachers, to guidance counselors to support staff...none of these things are good for children or for education," Duncan said.

On Thursday the House votes on a temporary budget to prevent a government shutdown.

That budget freezes spending and keeps the cuts in effect for most government agencies.