RIOT SHOTGUNS ORDERED BY U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION!

I find it interesting - in a perplexing way - that the U.S. Department of Education in Chicago, Illinois feels a need for 27 Remington Model 870 pump-action shotguns, with 14" barrels (4" shorter than the ones you or I could legally buy without a federal tax stamp) and Ghost Ring rear sights, at a cost of $35,000 when the country is in a financial crunch. That works out to $1296.30 per shotgun. For full details on this story see:
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/iteam&id=7326068.
First I have to wonder WHY the "Department of Education" needs combat-ready riot shotguns. Then I have to question their sense of fiscal responsibility and integrity when it comes to fraud, waste and abuse. A similar Mossberg Model 500 "Cruiser" shotgun can be had for $435 RETAIL, with the exception of a 14" improved cylinder barrel (which Mossberg could probably modify an 18.5" barrel to satisfy that requirement for almost no charge). Just for arguments sake let's say Mossberg would sell their modified 500 Cruiser model to the government for $400 (and I'm certain that it would be considerably less), which calculates to just $10,800 - for a net savings of $24,200. I own a Mossberg 500 shotgun - it's 25 years old - and it still works like new. How can people who supposedly investigate fraud, waste and abuse in the educational system justify that kind of waste within their own agency? The purchase order ends with:
Place of Delivery:
U.S. Department of Education
Office of Inspector General
c/o: Gary Pawlak, Special Agent
500 West Madison Street - Suite 1414
Chicago, IL 60661

HOW ARE THEY PAYING FOR THIS WASTE?
WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS!