Augusta - A report from the White House shows that education and defense would be among the biggest losers in Maine in automatic cuts to the federal budget set to take hold this week.

According to the White House, Maine would lose $2.7 7 million in funding for primary and secondary education and $2.6 million for about 30 teachers, aides and staff who help children with disabilities. The report says about 7,000 civilian Department of Defense workers would be furloughed.

Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King have called on President Barack Obama to work with congressional leaders to reach an agreement to prevent the cuts and reduce the national debt, citing a major contributor to Maine's economy. They say failure to avert such an outcome could have severe ramifications for the nation's shipbuilding industrial base, including Bath Iron Works in Maine.

The White House compiled the numbers from federal agencies and its own budget office. The numbers are based only on the $85 billion in cuts for this fiscal year, from March to September, that were set to take effect Friday.

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