The Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA), designed to provide financial aid to states for job creation and relief programs, served as a foundation for ambitious initiatives under President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal. To further tackle the increasing unemployment during the Great Depression, Roosevelt signed Executive Order 7034. This order established the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which became one of the most significant New Deal agencies. It was authorized to provide millions of jobs for the unemployed, with a focus on large-scale public works, including the construction of roads, bridges, schools, and parks.

The WPA's implementation led to the employment of over 8 million people during its operation from 1935 until 1943. The organization not only aimed to alleviate unemployment but also pursued projects that would enhance the nation’s infrastructure. In addition to constructing physical works, the WPA also supported artistic projects, funding theater, music, and literature through several sub-programs, such as the Federal Theatre Project and the Federal Writers' Project.

The establishment of the WPA signified a shift in government involvement in the economy, marking a new era of federal responsibility towards citizens’ welfare. The agency faced criticism for its spending and labor practices, but its success in job creation and infrastructure development solidified its place in American history. Ultimately, the WPA would be instrumental in helping the nation recover from the economic downturn of the 1930s and laid the groundwork for modern infrastructure and social welfare policies.