• Former DOGE staffer Edward Coristine was injured in an attempted carjacking.
• Two 15-year-olds have been arrested in connection with the incident.
• Trump threatens federal control over D.C. if local authorities do not improve crime management.
• The incident has intensified discussions on the city's governance and crime rates.

Former Department of Government Efficiency staffer Edward Coristine, also known as "Big Balls," was assaulted by a group of teenagers in a carjacking attempt in Washington, D.C. early Sunday morning. The attack has prompted President Donald Trump to threaten a federal takeover of the nation's capital if local authorities do not address rising crime rates. Coristine was attacked while he and his significant other were approached by around ten teenagers in the Logan Circle neighborhood, according to reports from the Metropolitan Police Department. As a result of the incident, two 15-year-olds from Maryland have been arrested on charges of unarmed carjacking, with investigations ongoing for additional suspects, according to HuffPost, CBS News, and SFGate.

In response to the attack on Coristine, Trump stated that crime in Washington is “out of control” and warned that he would federalize the city if it does not correct its course quickly. He expressed his frustrations via a post on Truth Social, emphasizing that the federal government might have no choice but to "run this city how it should be run" and put criminals on notice, according to HuffPost and SFGate.

The incident has reignited longstanding debates about the governance of D.C., as the city operates without full statehood and is susceptible to federal oversight. Republican leaders often utilize instances of urban violence to argue against local governance, despite claims from city officials that violent crime has decreased significantly. They cited that carjacking incidents, particularly those involving juveniles, have raised serious concerns, as noted by both CBS News and HuffPost.

Coristine, a notable figure on Trump's DOGE team, had been involved in efforts to streamline government processes before resigning and later returning to federal service shortly thereafter. Following the attack, he received considerable media attention, with Trump sharing a photo of him following the assault and describing him as an "incredible young man" who was "beaten mercilessly," according to CBS News and SFGate.