Cook County Politicians Unleash Permanent Basic Income Program Despite Skepticism

COOK COUNTY, Ill. — The largest county in the United States has moved forward with a permanent guaranteed basic income program, approved by its Board of Commissioners last week.

Chicago residents received confirmation as Fox News reported that Cook County officials have established a long-term government handout initiative following the success of an earlier pilot funded during the pandemic. This new phase is set to cost taxpayers $7.5 million annually and marks another expansion in what critics call failed strategies already shown to leave people with less work experience.

The county’s leadership secured this funding despite questions about effectiveness, as a local survey promoting continuation wasn’t independently verifiable or audited for transparency. Critics point out that the pilot program was known to decrease workforce participation among participants before transfers, and now the permanent version will likely compound these issues further down the line.

With this decision, Cook County joins other large entities pushing government welfare initiatives without clear long-term plans or measurable results tied to self-sufficiency.

The program’s impact on local economics remains unproven according critics.