The Obama Administration has officially come out against the destruction of entire planets.

The White House’s We The People initiative, an online petition that allows citizens to seek governmental action, is filled with what some would deem crazy requests. Nevertheless, the program promises that any petition generating at least 20,000 signatures will receive an official White House response.

That is what prompted an official Administration statement regarding inter-planetary destruction. A petition posted to We The People requested that the “government 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.”

This petition garnered over 30,000 signatures, which led Paul Shawcross, Chief of the Science and Space Branch at the White House Office of Management and Budget, to respond, “The Administration shares your desire for job creation and a strong national defense, but a Death Star isn't on the horizon.”

He lists several reasons, including the proposed space station’s estimated price tag of $850,000,000,000,000,000. Shawcross also poses the rhetorical question of, “Why would we spend countless taxpayer dollars on a Death Star with a fundamental flaw that can be exploited by a one-man starship?”

Shawcross goes on in his response to highlight many of NASA’s contributions to this type of technology: the International Space Station, the Mars Rover, etc. He also encourages students to study math, science and engineering in school. He concludes the official White House response by saying, “If you do pursue a career in a science, technology, engineering or math-related field, the Force will be with us! Remember, the Death Star's power to destroy a planet, or even a whole star system, is insignificant next to the power of the Force.”