President Donald Trump has renewed his threat of a federal takeover of Washington D.C. following an attack on Edward Coristine, a prominent member of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Coristine, also known online as “Big Balls,” was assaulted by a group of 10 teenagers in an attempted carjacking in the early morning hours of Sunday in an upscale neighborhood near the White House. Trump described crime in the nation’s capital as “totally out of control” and warned that if D.C. doesn’t “get its act together,” the federal government will have no choice but to take control of the city.
According to authorities, Coristine was surrounded and attacked by the group of teenagers outside his car. Police officers patrolling the area intervened and arrested two 15-year-old suspects, a boy and a girl, both from Maryland. The suspects were charged with unarmed carjacking, and additional suspects are still being sought. Coristine, who works at the Social Security Administration, had previously played a role in dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development as part of his work with DOGE.
Trump’s threat of a federal takeover comes amid a long-standing debate over crime and governance in Washington D.C. The president has argued that young people in the city do not fear consequences for committing crimes, and he has called for changes to the law to prosecute minors as adults and impose harsher sentences. “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,” Trump said in a social media post. Elon Musk, who had previously had a public falling out with Trump, also weighed in on the incident, saying “It is time to federalize D.C.”
Despite Trump’s claims, Washington D.C.’s crime rates have been falling. According to officials, violent crime in the city reached a 30-year low in January, with a 26% decline compared to the previous year. Homicides are also down 13% after a 32% drop last year. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser has acknowledged the challenge of protecting the city’s autonomy and has taken steps to comply with some of Trump’s wishes, including ordering the removal of the “Black Lives Matter” mural near the White House.
