Edward Coristine, one of the most talked-about and controversial staffers in the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has officially left the federal government, a White House spokesperson confirmed Tuesday.
Coristine, just 19 years old and nicknamed “Big Balls,” was among the original hires at DOGE. His departure marks the latest in a growing list of exits from the department, which has been a lightning rod for criticism over its aggressive push to slash government spending.
The White House declined to provide specifics about Coristine’s departure. However, a verified account under his name on X, confirmed the exit and hinted at more details to come. “Appreciate everyone who’s reached out. Feels good to finally breathe again,” the account posted, adding humorously that he might now be “running a cryptocurrency scam.” Coristine also promised a more detailed explanation in a future post.
Who is Edward Coristine?
Coristine quickly became a symbol of the perceived recklessness of DOGE among its critics, particularly due to his youth, lack of experience, and checkered history. According to Bloomberg News, he had previously been fired from a cybersecurity internship for leaking company secrets. His presence in senior federal roles sparked outcry from Democratic lawmakers and longtime civil servants, who questioned the department’s hiring standards and overall competence.
A turbulent government career
Despite his age, Coristine held multiple roles across federal agencies. In February, he claimed on social media to have started a job at the State Department. By the end of that month, he was listed as a senior adviser at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), part of the Department of Homeland Security. Most recently, the White House confirmed he was working with the General Services Administration (GSA) at the time of his departure. In March, Reuters reported that Coristine had previously provided tech support to a cybercrime gang known for trafficking stolen data and harassing an FBI agent.
Coristine’s resignation follows several other high-profile departures from DOGE. Tech billionaire Elon Musk, who had taken on a temporary advisory role, exited the administration late last month after a brief public spat with President Donald Trump. Others who have recently left include Musk’s chief aide Steve Davis and Amanda Scales, an employee of Musk’s artificial intelligence startup, xAI. In a Fox News interview before his departure, Coristine criticised federal spending practices, claiming there was “no accountability,” despite pushback from budget watchdog groups. His final days in office remain unclear, as do the reasons behind his exit.