Changes

   

   

==Criticism and favoritism==

==Criticism==

The WPA had numerous conservative critics unlike the Civilian Conservation Corps, which was quite popular.  One of the principal criticisms was that the program wasted federal dollars on projects that were not always needed or wanted.  A relic of this criticism survives today in the form of a satirical observation that WPA workers were hired 'to rake leaves in the park.' White-collar WPA projects in particular were often singled out for their sometimes overtly left-wing social and political themes. One criticism of the allocation of WPA projects and funding was that they were often made for political considerations.  Congressional leaders in favor with the Roosevelt administration, or who possessed considerable seniority and political power often helped decide which states and localities received the most funding. The most serious criticism was that Roosevelt was building a nationwide political machine with millions of workers. The [[Hatch Act]] of 1939 outlawed political activities on government time.  

The WPA had numerous conservative critics unlike the Civilian Conservation Corps, which was quite popular.  One of the principal criticisms was that the program wasted federal dollars on projects that were not always needed or wanted.  A relic of this criticism survives today in the form of a satirical observation that WPA workers were hired 'to rake leaves in the park.' White-collar WPA projects in particular were often singled out for their sometimes overtly left-wing social and political themes. One criticism of the allocation of WPA projects and funding was that they were often made for political considerations.  Congressional leaders in favor with the Roosevelt administration, or who possessed considerable seniority and political power often helped decide which states and localities received the most funding. The most serious criticism was that Roosevelt was building a nationwide political machine with millions of workers. The [[Hatch Act]] of 1939 outlawed political activities on government time.