Applications for unemployment benefits filed by federal employees remained at an elevated level for a second week as the Trump administration moves to dramatically shrink the size of the federal government.

Fewer Americans filed for initial jobless benefits last week, according to the Department of Labor, reversing a spike in the previous week's data. The figures also suggested that claims by former federal employees increased mid-February.

The first trickle of federal workers losing their jobs showed up last week in U.S. applications for unemployment benefits, but many more filings are likely in the next few months as the full scope of mass layoffs become clear.