Which group was known for its opposition to New Deal programs, claiming they interfered with free enterprise?

Business leaders were known for their strong opposition to New Deal programs, arguing that such initiatives interfered with free enterprise and the principles of capitalism. During the Great Depression, many business leaders believed that the government’s extensive involvement in the economy, including regulation, labor rights, and social welfare programs, threatened their ability to operate freely and competitively. They often viewed the New Deal as an encroachment on their economic sovereignty.

While labor unions worked to gain rights and improve working conditions, and socialists supported government intervention as a means of reforming capitalism, business leaders saw the New Deal as a move towards socialism and an attack on their interests. Farmers also had their own complex relationship with New Deal policies, benefiting from certain programs while also expressing frustrations over government regulations and price controls. Ultimately, business leaders stood out as the primary group articulating the argument that New Deal programs limited free enterprise.