Edward Coristine, a former employee of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and widely known by his nickname "Big Balls," was violently assaulted during an attempted carjacking in Washington, D.C., early Sunday morning. The incident occurred around 3 a.m. near Logan Circle in the northwest part of the city, when Coristine was with a woman identified as his significant other. According to the Metropolitan Police Department, a group of approximately ten juveniles approached the pair near their parked vehicle and made threats about stealing the car. Coristine pushed the woman inside the car for her safety before confronting the group, leading to a brutal attack on him by multiple assailants until police intervened.

Two 15-year-old suspects, a boy and a girl from Hyattsville, Maryland, were arrested near the scene while attempting to flee and were charged with unarmed carjacking. Several other suspects managed to escape and remain at large as investigations continue. Coristine sustained serious injuries requiring medical treatment at the scene, including bloodied wounds visible in photos shared on social media by individuals like former President Donald Trump and fellow DOGE staffers. Those images depict Coristine shirtless with blood spattered on his face and body, reinforcing the violent nature of the attack.

The attack has reignited debate around crime and youth violence in Washington, D.C., particularly focusing on the challenge of prosecuting minors involved in violent offenses. President Trump, referencing the assault, called for revising laws in D.C. to prosecute juveniles aged 14 and older as adults to impose stricter punishments. Trump used the incident to highlight what he described as rampant violence by local youths and gang members in the city, criticizing the current system's inability to deter crime. He warned of potentially federalizing the city government to restore order if local authorities fail to act decisively.

Edward Coristine, who still works for the government in roles connected to Social Security Administration and other agencies, became known as "Big Balls" during his tenure at DOGE, where he contributed to initiatives aimed at shrinking government size and efficiency improvements. Elon Musk, former head of DOGE, confirmed the assault in a social media post, describing Coristine as a hero who intervened to protect a woman from the gang. The incident underlines ongoing concerns about public safety in the nation's capital despite reported declines in overall crime rates in recent years.