WHO: Pentagon

WHAT: Hundreds of defense companies that defrauded the U.S. military between 2007 and 2009 still received $285 billion in contracts with the U.S. Defense Department during the same period.

HOW: Citing a January report prepared by the Pentagon, Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vt., said the bulk of the contracts, a little more than $280 billion, went to 211 companies that had civil judgments against them or settled fraud charges of more than $1 million. During the same period, 30 defense contractors were convicted of criminal fraud, but still were awarded $682 million in new work, according to the report.

WHY IT’S OUTRAGEOUS: The senator urged the Defense Department to take more-aggressive steps to ensure taxpayer dollars are not wasted at a time when the U.S. is running a $14 trillion national debt.