Updated

The following statement was issued by a White House official, when asked whether the sequester would affect the first lady's office budget.

"The First Lady's office is part of the Executive Office of the President. To comply with the sequester, White House components will cut back on all but the most urgent supply and equipment purchases.  Personnel costs will be reduced by implementing a hiring slow-down or freeze, furloughing employees or reducing salaries.  The reduced staffing levels will necessarily affect the critical, day-to-day official functions of the White House - but they also have an impact on routine public functions like responding to public correspondence, updating the White House website and facilitating White House tours of both the residence and the West Wing."