Final answer:
New Deal programs like Social Security and the minimum wage continue to affect Americans, ensuring financial security and fair labor standards. Additionally, the New Deal's legacy influenced later social support programs like Medicaid and Medicare, as well as the GI Bill that supported veterans and the growth of the middle class.
Step-by-step explanation:
Several New Deal programs continue to significantly affect the lives of U.S. citizens to this day. One of the most impactful is the Social Security program, which provides financial assistance to the elderly, unemployed, individuals with disabilities, and dependent children. Alongside Social Security, other New Deal initiatives like the minimum wage laws still play a crucial role in establishing labor standards and influencing the economy.
Moreover, the tradition of government responsibility to offer social programs initiated by the New Deal programs has been extended through additions such as Medicaid, Medicare, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). These programs ensure that a baseline standard of living is maintained across the country, particularly in tough economic times. Lastly, while some programs from the New Deal era were phased out, their legacy influenced subsequent legislation, such as the GI Bill, which helped veterans transition to civilian life and bolstered the American middle class.