The White House petition site is a curious place. Thousands of Americans band together to advocate for their causes, which can range from serious to sarcastic. Should any petition reach 25,000 signatures, the White House will issue an official response.
Sensing an opportunity, over 34,000 Americans urged the White House to build a Death Star to bolster the country's imperial reach in space. Having reached the requisite number of signatures, the petition earned an official response from the White House.
The executive branch sees little justification for the space station, and had a little fun debunking the movement.
Paul Shawcross, Chief of the Science and Space Branch at the White House Office of Management and Budget, responded to the petition with several concerns:
The Administration shares your desire for job creation and a strong national defense, but a Death Star isn't on the horizon. Here are a few reasons:
- The construction of the Death Star has been estimated to cost more than $850,000,000,000,000,000. We're working hard to reduce the deficit, not expand it.
- The Administration does not support blowing up planets.
- Why would we spend countless taxpayer dollars on a Death Star with a fundamental flaw that can be exploited by a one-man starship?
