Leah Millis/Reuters
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is reportedly examining a plan that would allow states to use federal funding to purchase guns for educators. Multiple sources cited by The New York Times late Wednesday said the Education Department is considering using a program in federal education law that does not prohibit weapons purchases, the Student Support and Academic Enrichment grants. Congress has long forbidden that federal funds for school safety be used to purchase weapons, but a loophole in the Student Support and Academic Enrichment program would reportedly allow DeVos to approve plans by states or school districts to use the grants on firearms or firearm training. A spokeswoman for the Education Department cited by the Times declined to comment directly on the plans, saying only that the department is “constantly considering and evaluating policy issues, particularly issues related to school safety.”