WASHINGTON — US airports, including Los Angeles International and O’Hare International in Chicago, are already experiencing delays as a result of automatic federal spending cuts, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Monday.

Both of those big-city airports routinely suffer delays.

Napolitano, who spoke at a Politico-sponsored event on the 10th anniversary of DHS, said that delays will become worse. The Transportation Security Administration and Customs and Border Protection agencies, which are part of the Homeland Security Department, are sending furlough notices and have cut overtime for employees.

Napolitano said she expects a cascading effect during the week, with wait times expected to double in worst cases.