National Security No Longer a Trump-Musk Administration Concern
Reuters just disclosed an article titled **"DOGE staffer 'Big Balls' provided tech support to cybercrime ring, records show."**
I knew kids like Big Balls back in my high-school days, I guess we all did. Most of them ended up in jail, but that was way back in the days when we actually sent criminals to the slammer, instead of poor, black kids that shoplifted a scarf. That was BOA (before Orange Man), when secrets were worth keeping. Any small degree of government integrity is now either for sale, or to be bargained away as a negotiating chip in the art of a deal.
Countries now have a price, as do treaties and, so it would seem, do obligations to allies.
A few examples, for those who don't play close attention:
Edward Coristine, known online as "Big Balls," senior adviser at the U.S. Department of State and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Coristine operated DiamondCDN, a network services company that provided technical support to the cybercrime group EGodly. Nineteen years old now, he was, between 16 and 17 years old during that period. An inventive youngster, he busied himself in trafficking stolen data, hijacking phone numbers, infiltrating law enforcement email accounts, and cyberstalking an FBI agent. Having no security clearances at all, his roles at DOGE under Elon Musk, granted him access to critical government networks and data. One might ask just how far from the tree that apple fell, and if anyone cares?
(ChatGDP) Inadvertent Exposure of Military Operations via Messaging App: Just this week, top Trump administration officials mistakenly included journalist Jeffrey Goldberg in an encrypted Signal group chat discussing sensitive military operations in Yemen. This breach revealed operational plans, including timelines for strikes and drone launches, raising significant security concerns. Signal is available to you and I, offering end-to-end encryption, but hackable to anyone interested in hacking. Those in the discussion, contributed from wherever they happened to be, one of whom was in Moscow at the time.
Orange Man's suspension of Efforts to Counter Russian Sabotage: Earlier this month, the Trump administration suspended numerous national security efforts designed to counter Russian sabotage, disinformation, and cyberattacks. This move, aimed at improving relations with Russia, raised concerns about the de-prioritization of monitoring Russia’s hybrid warfare tactics. One shudders at the fact a sitting president is allowed to do that.
Access to Sensitive Government Personnel Data by Musk's DOGE Team: Last month, which seems like years ago in this administration, agents working for Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) accessed highly restricted government records on millions of federal employees maintained by the Office of Personnel Management. This unauthorized access raised significant privacy and security concerns.
Firing of Independent Watchdog Officials: In January 2025, President Trump dismissed at least 12 independent inspectors general, leading to criticism over the removal of officials responsible for oversight and accountability within the administration.
Back in his first term, Trump proposed a Cybersecurity Unit with Russia.
In July 2017, then president Trump proposed forming a joint cybersecurity unit with Russia. Does that sound like a good idea to you? After seventy years of Cold War, joint cybersecurity with your adversary seems a bit of a leap, no matter that you’re discussing a Trump project in Moscow.
The idea faced harsh criticism due to concerns over collaborating with a nation accused of cyberattacks against the U.S., leading to a swift backtrack on the proposal. That was way back, when harsh criticism was still allowed.
The U.S. federal government has (or had) multiple levels of security classifications and access controls to protect sensitive information and critical infrastructure.
None of these apply, as DOGE chainsaws its way through government agencies.
If the head of an agency refuses access to Musk's 19-24-yr-olds knocking at the door, the Orange Man simply fires the refuser, and keeps firing his way down the chain-of-command until access is granted.
"Hey, Big Balls, c'mon in. The water’s fine"