Final answer:
Both critics and supporters of the New Deal agree that its lasting legacy is the expansion of the federal government's role in the economy, highlighted by programs that are still in effect today, such as the FDIC and SEC.
Step-by-step explanation:
Both critics and supporters of the New Deal would likely agree that a lasting legacy of the New Deal is the expansion of the federal government's role in the economy. This expansion included the acceptance of deficit spending as a means to finance numerous governmental programs, which expanded the U.S. debt but also changed public opinion on the government's responsibilities towards economic security. New Deal programs like the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that were established during this period, continue to impact the nation today. Moreover, these programs shifted the political discussion about the degree of government involvement in economic regulation and social welfare.