There has been an official White House response to a petition related to building a Death Star. The petition asks to secure the resources to build a death star by 2016. The petition was added to Whitehouse.gov on Nov 14, 2012, here is the complete text:

Secure resources and funding, and begin construction of a Death Star by 2016.

Those who sign here petition the United States government to secure funding and resources, and begin construction on a Death Star by 2016.

By focusing our defense resources into a space-superiority platform and weapon system such as a Death Star, the government can spur job creation in the fields of construction, engineering, space exploration, and more, and strengthen our national defense.

The theory is that a Death Star, like the one built by Darth Vader and company on Star Wars, would spur economic growth while strengthening our national defense. The petition quickly gained over 34 thousand signatures, over the 25k needed to be considered for a response.

The response is lighthearted, yet concise and helps explain the US policy on space. Paul Shawcross, the Chief of the Science and Space Branch at the White House Office of Management and Budget wrote the response. The title is “This Isn’t the Petition Response You’re Looking For” and imediatly crushes the dreams of those who would like the US government to obtain Death Star capabilities. Here is the first paragraph.

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?

The response moves on to explain our current space capacity, including the International Space Station, the Mars rovers and the strength of private corporate space exploration. Over the next five paragraphs Mr. Shawcross explains our scientific achievements, and tells us we live in the future. At the end of the article he encourages people to enjoy the scientific achievements, and even more so to enter the scientific community.

The entire petition and response can be found here: https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/secure-resources-and-funding-and-begin-construction-death-star-2016/wlfKzFkN