Edward Coristine, who also happens to be one of the most controversial figures and is best known by his online alias, Big Ball, has officially stepped down as the head of the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) after the major departure of Elon Musk, the head of the government-backed enterprise. At the mere age of 19, Coristine was a household name in political as well as internet circles thanks to his high-profile position and background that was unorthodox.
It is not the first sign of turmoil in DOGE, a special project of the Trump era intended to reduce government inefficiency by extreme utilization of artificial intelligence and budget cuts, which the White House confirmed his departure. The exit of Coristine follows that of Musk quitting DOGE in May and the resignation of Musk’s deputy Steve Davis, who had been handling day-to-day affairs.
The Emergence of the Super Balls: Neuralink to the Federal Government
Edward Coristine came on board to join DOGE, having worked previously with Elon Musk in Neuralink, the brain-computer interface company. Brought into DOGE the ambitious idea of Musk to transform the bureaucratic systems of the United States government through technology and especially with the tool of AI that his xAI company will offer. At a tender age, Coristine soon became infamous for his aggressive pursuit of federal change, and at the same time, amassed obscene fame that led to his blog moniker going viral, being Big Balls.
In the department, Coristine quickly rose to influence, and he toiled to advance the adoption of xAI chatbot Grok at the federal agencies. His independent swashbuckling attitude was, however, subjected to criticism. Coristine, to those on the outside and the inside of Washington, came to represent everything dubious about DOGE: youthful tech activists with little experience of government to be vested with enormous authority to radically reinvent the wheel.
Controversial Past and Security Concerns
Coristine’s time in government was plagued by controversy, particularly surrounding his alleged connections to online hacker communities. According to reports from congressional Democrats and cybersecurity investigators, Coristine had previously interacted with known cybercriminal groups and even boasted in chat rooms about trafficking stolen data and harassing an FBI agent. One investigation also found he had once lost a private-sector job following a suspected data leak linked to his online activities.
These allegations, though never criminally charged, raised serious concerns within Congress. Some lawmakers used these findings to demand a full investigation into DOGE’s hiring practices, particularly questioning how someone with such a background came to occupy a central government post. Coristine’s defenders claimed these actions were exaggerated and part of a broader backlash against the tech overhaul of government systems, but the questions remained unresolved.
The Decline of DOGE’s Stability
DOGE has seen a wave of resignations and internal instability since Elon Musk’s exit in May. Musk had been appointed as Chief of DOGE during the Trump administration’s push to reduce government spending and overhaul the federal workforce. With Musk and now Coristine gone, as well as the resignation of other key figures like Steve Davis, many observers are questioning whether DOGE can continue to operate as intended.
Despite the turmoil, a White House spokesperson stated that DOGE’s “mission will continue,” although the future direction of the department remains uncertain. Analysts suggest the program may now face budget cuts, structural changes, or even a possible shutdown depending on political shifts in Washington.
Legacy of a Bold but Troubled Tech Experiment
Edward Coristine’s time in DOGE will likely be remembered as a mix of bold innovation and deep controversy. His work championed the aggressive use of artificial intelligence in federal processes, a move praised by some as necessary modernization but criticized by others as reckless and dangerous.
Coristine has not commented publicly on his resignation, and it remains unclear whether he plans to return to the private tech sector or pursue another public role. For now, his departure represents both the end of a short, turbulent chapter in U.S. governance and a broader reckoning with the risks of inserting Silicon Valley disruption into the heart of government operations.
