Overview

• Edward Coristine, a 19-year-old with ties to Elon Musk, has been appointed as a senior adviser at the State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Technology.
• The bureau, central to Washington's IT and data management, holds sensitive information critical to U.S. diplomacy.
• Coristine's lack of experience and controversial past, including allegations of leaking data from a former employer, have raised alarms among some officials.
• He is part of a group of young engineers linked to Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative, which has expanded its influence in federal agencies.
• Critics argue that Coristine's role exemplifies the growing reach of tech billionaires into government operations, sparking debates over accountability and security risks.