(Reuters) -Wall Street's top regulator the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission saw the biggest drop in staff numbers at agency divisions handling legal affairs, investment management and trading and markets following buyout programs offered by President Donald Trump's administration, data provided to Reuters showed on Thursday.

The data, obtained by Reuters through a public records request, show those divisions lost 15% to 19% of their full-time headcount over the course of several weeks, representing a significant workforce drawdown.

The SEC's Chicago and Denver office staff numbers were also down nearly 20%, the data shows. The data is being reporting for the first time by Reuters.

The SEC declined comment.