Trump Threatens to Federalize District of Columbia After Former DOGE Staffer “Big Balls” Assaulted
Trump Threatens to Federalize District of Columbia After Former DOGE Staffer “Big Balls” Assaulted originally appeared on L.A. Mag.
President Donald J. Trump posts on Truth Social that if violence from “local ‘youths’ and gang members” does not subside, he will federalize the District of Columbia.Los Angeles file photo
19-year-old former DOGE staffer, Edward “Big Balls” Coristine, was physically assaulted between 3:01 and 4:20 am on the morning of Sunday, August 3. According to a report from DC’s Metropolitan Police Department, the incident began when around 10 youths surrounded the car and made a comment about taking the vehicle. Two suspects have been arrested, but one escaped with a black iPhone 16. Alongside “Big Balls” was Emily Bryant, who Coristine pushed into his car before the attackers assaulted him. Bryant is Coristine’s “significant other” and is linked to the Federal Trade Commission, the General Services Administration, and the Executive Office of the President.
“Big Balls” took a large part in DOGE action, like dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development. He also worked with the Department of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and Transportation Security Administration, as he helped with initiatives like the “gold card” that would grant foreigners US residency for $5 million.
While Coristine is no longer working for DOGE, he is still affiliated with the government as an employee of the Social Security Administration and is relevant on Trump’s Truth Social account.
On August 5, Trump posted a bloodied photo of “Big Balls” on his social media platform and made a statement condemning greater themes of violence in the District of Columbia.
“Local ‘youths’ and gang members, some only 14, 15, and 16-years-old, are randomly attacking, mugging, maiming, and shooting innocent Citizens, at the same time knowing that they will be almost immediately released….The Law in D.C. must be changed to prosecute these ‘minors’ as adults, and lock them up for a long time, starting at age 14. The most recent victim was beaten mercilessly by local thugs.”
The President threatened to federalize the District of Columbia at the end of the post, if these acts of violence continue.
“Perhaps it should have been done a long time ago, then this incredible young man, and so many others, would not have had to go through the horrors of Violent Crime. If this continues, I am going to exert my powers, and FEDERALIZE this City.”
This story was originally reported by L.A. Mag on Aug 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
