White House Responds to 'Star Wars' Death Star Petition

The White House officially responded to a "We the People" petition to "secure resources and funding, and begin construction of a Death Star by 2016."

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The statement from Paul Shawcross, the chief of the Science and Space Branch at the White House Office of Management and Budget, listed three main reasons for the White House's opposition:

1. "The construction of the Death Star has been estimated to cost more than $850 quadrillion. We're working hard to reduce the deficit, not expand it."

2. "The Administration does not support blowing up planets."

3. "Why would we spend countless taxpayer dollars on a Death Star with a fundamental flaw that can be exploited by a one-man starship?"

The statement goes on to extol the Obama Administration's accomplishments in space policy, including sending a new probe to the sun and building a more powerful successor to the Hubble telescope. 

The full response can be read here.

"We the People" is an online petition program started under President Obama to allow citizens to influence policy with their suggestions. The Administration has promised to officially respond to any petition with over 25,000 signatures.

As of Jan. 11, the Death Star petition had over 34,000 signatures.

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