DeVos Eyes Use of Federal Funds to Arm Teachers

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is looking at a plan to permit states to use federal money to buy guns for teachers, The New York Times is reporting.

In March, Congress allocated $50 million a year to local school districts, but prohibited the use of the money for guns. But the Education Department is now looking at a program that uses the Student Support and Academic Enrichment grants as a way to fund the weapons. This specific program does not prohibit the use of money for firearms, the newspaper said.

It would allow DeVos to use her discretion to approve any state or district plans to use the funding for firearms.

A spokeswoman for the department would not directly address the plan.

"The department is constantly considering and evaluating policy issues, particularly issues related to school safety," said Liz Hill of the Education Department. "The secretary nor the department issues opinions on hypothetical scenarios."

The newspaper said the department began looking at the program following school shootings in Parkland, Florida and Santa Fe, Texas.

Seventeen people were shot killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland in February.

Another 10 people were killed by a gunman in May at Santa Fe High School.

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