Donald Trump thanked former DOGE employee Edward Coristine during the September 29 launch of America.gov at the White House.
Coristine, who used the nickname “Big Balls” online, worked with several former DOGE staffers on a federal technology project involving AI and government services.
Donald Trump thanked former DOGE staffer Edward Coristine during the America.gov launch
Trump launched America.gov during Tuesday’s event and signed an executive order directing the federal government to use “Super Intelligence” and “SI” in place of “Artificial Intelligence” and “AI,” according to the White House.
During his remarks, Trump acknowledged Coristine by name while discussing the team involved with the project.
“The lead engineer, Ed Coristine, Ed, thank you,” Trump said.
Trump also addressed the broader team and said its members were “working 20-hour days in government on behalf of our country, and we salute them.”
Coristine works at the White House’s National Design Studio, which the White House established in 2025 as part of the America by Design initiative. The White House says the studio works to improve the usability and design of federal services.
Coristine also posted a recruitment message for the National Design Studio on X on Tuesday.
“Now is the time to serve your country,” Coristine wrote. “Take the way things used to be done and grind it under your heel. A new era is dawning of revolutionizing how America can serve its people.”
Coristine previously worked with DOGE before receiving a full-time government position. Records cited by DOGE Track show that he became a full-time GSA employee as a senior advisor on May 31, 2025, before leaving that role in June.
His “Big Balls” nickname came from a LinkedIn username and remained on his X profile.
Coristine also received public attention after an alleged attempted carjacking and assault in Washington, D.C., in August 2025. Trump later said Coristine had been “beaten mercilessly” and called him an “incredible young man.” The attack was described in police records as an attempted carjacking, and Coristine was among the people assaulted.
According to the Daily Beast reporting on the case, a 15-year-old boy pleaded guilty to simple assault. He received 12 months of probation. Meanwhile, a 15-year-old girl also pleaded guilty to simple assault and received nine months of probation.
Coristine’s September 29 appearance placed him alongside Trump during the America.gov launch as he continued working with the National Design Studio.
