Public Works Administration (PWA)

The Public Works Administration (PWA) was established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on June 16, 1933, as part of the New Deal response to the Great Depression. The PWA aimed to stimulate the American economy by providing jobs and funding large-scale construction projects nationwide. The agency left a lasting legacy in American infrastructure and played a significant role in the nation’s economic recovery during the 1930s.

• The PWA was created as a part of the National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA), which was signed into law by President Roosevelt on June 16, 1933
• The purpose of the PWA was to boost the American economy by providing jobs and funding for large-scale public works projects, such as building roads, bridges, dams, schools, hospitals, and other infrastructure.
• The PWA was led by Secretary of the Interior Harold L. Ickes, who became known as the “Construction Czar”
• The agency’s budget was initially set at $3.3 billion, which was a significant amount of money at the time and made the PWA the largest New Deal agency in terms of funding.
• Between 1933 and 1939, the PWA funded more than 34,000 projects, employing millions of Americans in the process.
• Some of the most famous PWA projects include the construction of the Hoover Dam, the Grand Coulee Dam, the Triborough Bridge in New York City, and the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.
• The PWA also significantly impacted education, as it provided funding for the construction of over 70,000 school buildings across the United States.
• The agency was praised for its contributions to American infrastructure but also criticized for its slow pace in allocating funds and initiating projects.
• The PWA was disbanded in 1944 as the United States shifted its focus to World War II, and its remaining funds were used for the war effort.

The Public Works Administration was a critical part of the New Deal response to the Great Depression. By providing jobs and funding for large-scale public works projects, the PWA helped to revitalize the American economy and left a lasting impact on the nation’s infrastructure.