Written by David Armstrong.

The federal judge who stopped President Trump from halting USAID’s funding has now been exposed for having a direct financial stake in the matter. Judge Jack McConnell has reportedly benefited from over $117.6 million in government funds, and new reports indicate he stands to gain even more.

This raises a serious question: was his ruling based on legal principles, or was he protecting a financial pipeline that benefits him? Given the scale of funding involved, the answer seems obvious.

McConnell’s Deep Ties to a Taxpayer-Funded Nonprofit

Recent findings from America First Legal (AFL) reveal that Judge McConnell is closely linked to Crossroads Rhode Island, a nonprofit organization that has raked in massive government funding over the years. McConnell has been involved with Crossroads since 2006, including a ten-year stint as its Chair. Even after becoming a federal judge in 2013, he continued appearing on the organization’s IRS Form 990 filings as a Director.

Crossroads Rhode Island relies heavily on government grants, receiving $18.6 million just last year. Since McConnell took on a leadership role in 2009, the organization has pulled in a staggering $117.6 million in taxpayer dollars. Between 2020 and 2023 alone, it secured $42 million, and in 2025, another $2.9 million has already been funneled its way.

A Ruling That Keeps The Money Flowing

McConnell’s decision to block President Trump’s freeze on USAID funding didn’t just have policy implications—it ensured that federal dollars kept pouring into groups like Crossroads Rhode Island. His ruling argued that cutting these funds would harm essential programs, but the real question is whether those programs are truly essential or just a cover for cronyism.

According to USA Spending reports, Crossroads Rhode Island has been a sub-awardee in 155 federal grants given to Rhode Island’s state and local governments over the past 15 years. In 2023 alone, over $10 million in federal funding passed through the state and ended up in Crossroads’ hands. And this was overseen by a judge with direct connections to the organization.

Federal law makes it clear: judges must recuse themselves from any case where their impartiality could be questioned. Yet McConnell stayed on, ruled in a way that protected his interests, and failed to disclose his ties. That’s not just a lapse in ethics—it’s outright corruption.

Our Take

This is exactly the kind of judicial misconduct that erodes public trust in the courts. When a judge has a personal financial connection to the outcome of a case, their rulings can’t be taken at face value. McConnell should have recused himself immediately, but instead, he chose to protect the funding stream that benefits his nonprofit.

This is a glaring example of how unelected judges can override the will of the people while lining their own pockets. If McConnell refuses to step down, Congress must investigate and hold him accountable. Judges who abuse their power to serve their own interests need to be removed, or the system will continue to be rigged against the American taxpayer.