The sequestration could also affect nongovernmental agency funding as well.

Mote Marine Laboratory, a private institute, could have a 25 percent to 30 percent reduction in federal research funding, said Kumar Mahadevan, president and chief executive officer.

"Our budget has $8.5 million in research," Mahadevan said, "and about $1.5 million comes from federal grants."

He said the sequestration should not affect existing grants, but with fewer federal funds available there will be less money for future research.

Jim Brooks, spokesman for the Miami district office of the Small Business Administration, said nationally there will be a $16.8 million cut in loans for start up businesses.

Also, there will be a reduction federal contracts with small business, Brooks said.

"With the federal government the largest purchaser in the world," he said. "The effect will be widespread."

Some agencies will not feel any of the impact from the budget cuts.

The Manatee County Veterans Service department receives all its funding from Manatee County Commission, so it will be able to continue all its veteran programs, said Andy Huffman, senior veteran service officer.

Likewise for the Bay Pines Veterans Healthcare System, which has a clinic in Manatee County.

"Our funding has already been approved for two years in advance," said Jason Dangel, public information officer for Bay Pines.

Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota, made the Republican case, noting that "federal spending has doubled in the past 10 years, exploding from $1.7 trillion to $3.4 trillion."

The congressman cited several examples of federal programs that could be cut, such as the Environmental Protection Agency to "test air quality in India, study swine manure in Thailand, and teach sustainable cooking techniques in Kenya," or $1 million for NASA to "taste-test food to be served on the planet Mars," he wrote in an email message.

Although the exact impact of the cuts remains to be seen, a far greater threat to the future is a "crushing national debt" that has placed the U.S. on a path to bankruptcy, Buchanan wrote.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson emphasized that budget cuts "will hit Florida and Manatee County hard."

"There will be less funding for things like teachers, child-care services, emergency workers and low-income housing," he wrote in an email message.

"And we don't have a solution yet because some in Washington are still doing a Kabuki dance," he added. "I think the Senate should pass the plan we put on the table recently to avert mandatory across-the-board cuts. Then, we can use that to work out a compromise with the House.