the works progress administration (or wpa) was an agency in the united states during the new deal. it was formed in 1935, during the "second new deal". it employed more workers than any government agency had before. it built thousands of roads, schools, and government buildings. part of it was the federal art project, which created, such as murals by diego rivera and the play "the cradle will rock". the agency was led by harry hopkins. it lasted until world war ii. this program gave millions of people jobs during the great depression.