Trump Pushes for Federal Takeover of D.C. After DOGE Worker Attack

A recent violent incident involving an employee of the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has sparked a political response from Donald Trump, who is calling for legislative action to prosecute the attackers. The victim, identified as Edward Coristine—known online as “Big Balls”—was attacked by approximately 10 teenagers near Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C., around 3 a.m. on Sunday [1]. The assault occurred as Coristine attempted to assist a woman during an attempted carjacking [2].

According to the Metropolitan Police Department, two 15-year-old suspects from Hyattsville, Maryland, were arrested and charged with unarmed carjacking [2]. Coristine was treated at the scene by D.C. Fire and EMS before being transported for further medical care. Trump, who has long advocated for stricter crime policies, shared a photo of Coristine on his social media platform, Truth Social, showing him shirtless and with visible injuries on his face, body, and clothing [1]. The argued that the law should allow the attackers to be prosecuted as adults, stating that the incident reflects a broader pattern of lawlessness in the capital [1].

Elon Musk, who is closely connected to the DOGE initiative, also commented on the attack, highlighting that Coristine was severely beaten while trying to prevent the crime [2]. The incident has reignited Trump’s long-standing push to federalize the governance of Washington, D.C. He has warned that if local authorities fail to address the city’s crime rates, he may take executive action to impose federal control [2]. This stance aligns with his broader rhetoric about increasing federal oversight and stricter law enforcement, a position that has drawn both support and criticism from residents and officials.

D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb condemned the attack as “horrific and disturbing,” affirming the city’s commitment to holding perpetrators accountable when evidence is available [2]. U.S. Attorney for D.C., Jeanine Pirro, who recently met with Trump, emphasized the need to address youth crime, noting that while overall crime has dropped by 7% and violent crime by 26% compared to the same period last year, more remains to be done [2].

Coristine, who had been hired as a special government employee by the Social Security Administration in June, was one of the original members of the DOGE initiative [2]. It is currently unclear whether he was still employed at the time of the attack. The incident has once again brought the debate over federal versus local authority into the national spotlight, with Trump using the case to advocate for new legislation and expanded federal control in D.C.

Sources:

[1] https://www.theblockbeats.info/en/flash/306090

[2] https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/president-trump-politics/trump-threatens-federal-takeover-dc-crime/3970968/

[3] https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/08/05/trump-doge-worker-washington-dc-crime/