Trump Threatens Federal Takeover of Washington After Member of DOGE Is Assaulted

President Trump reignited calls for a federal takeover of Washington, D.C. after a violent attempted carjacking left a 19-year-old software engineer, Edward Coristine, bloodied and injured. Trump shared a photo on social media that appeared to show Coristine lying shirtless and beaten in the street, calling the city’s crime situation “totally out of control,” despite official data showing a decline in overall crime rates.

Coristine, who works at the Social Security Administration and previously helped dismantle USAID, was assaulted by a group of 10 young individuals early Sunday morning near the White House, according to police. He was reportedly trying to protect his girlfriend when the group surrounded them. Police patrolling nearby interrupted the attack.

Authorities arrested two 15-year-olds from Maryland, a boy and a girl, and charged them with unarmed carjacking. The search for other suspects is ongoing. The attack occurred in a wealthy D.C. neighborhood.

Trump criticized D.C.’s handling of juvenile crime, demanding tougher laws and suggesting minors as young as 14 should be prosecuted as adults. He claimed that young offenders no longer fear consequences. His comments tap into an ongoing debate, as D.C. has faced growing concern about youth involvement in robberies and carjackings. In response, Mayor Muriel Bowser earlier this year launched a police unit focused on juvenile crime.

Trump has previously floated the idea of placing D.C. under federal control — a move backed by some Republicans in Congress. The latest incident has reignited that push. Tech billionaire Elon Musk, despite his public feud with Trump, supported the idea on social media, writing, “It is time to federalize D.C.”

Coristine, also known online as “Big Balls,” is part of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) — a group of young government reformers inspired by Musk. He declined to comment on the attack.

Meanwhile, D.C. officials defend their progress. The city recently reported a 26% drop in violent crime and a 13% decrease in homicides so far this year, building on a 32% drop in 2024. Still, the Trump administration has taken steps to exert more control, such as cutting $1.1 billion from the city’s budget and forming a federal task force called “D.C. Safe and Beautiful.”

Mayor Bowser, while resisting federal overreach, has complied with some federal demands — including removing the Black Lives Matter mural near the White House in March.

Because the suspects are minors, their case will be handled by the D.C. Attorney General’s office, which has strict confidentiality laws for juvenile cases.

“This attack is horrific and disturbing,” said D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb. “No one who lives in, works in, or visits D.C. should experience this.”

Source: NEW YORK TIMES