In continuing its tradition of keeping tabs on government spending, The Project on Government Oversight (POGO) - a non-profit government watchdog group - has created a helpful and interesting database that tracks instances of contractor misconduct among the top 50 government contractors. 

Misconduct comes in many forms.  Some examples include: environmental law violations, over billing, poor safety and health programs, misrepresenting earnings, workplace discrimination, misleading publicity, environmental health lawsuits, intimidation, firing whistleblowers, fraud, bribing, extortion, and breach of contract, among others.    

At the top of the group's list as both the largest and most cited contractor is Lockheed Martin, cited for 42 instances of misconduct since 1995 valued at over $553 million dollars of the.  Many of its infractions mirrors the list of possible misconduct types above. General Electric sits number two on the group's shame list with 28 instances of misconduct valued at $37.2 million, although GE places 16th for overall government dollars procured in 2005 - the latest data made available by POGO.

Other well known contractors earning POGO's disdain include Exxon, Honeywell, Boeing, Northrop Grunmann, BP, Ratheon, Haliburton, FedEx, Bechtel, Fluor Corporation and the University of California, among others.  

Only seven contractors enjoy immunity on POGOs list, having no reported instances of misconduct despite collectively accounting for over $10 billion in government business in 2005.  These companies include Triwest Healthcare Alliance Company,  California Institute of Technology, GM/GDLS Defense Group, OshKoch Truck Corporation, Agility Logistics, MacAndrews Holdings, and the Bell Boeing Joint Program. 

Those interested in more details can dig through POGO's Archives for more information about each instance of misconduct and the outcomes of cases against the contractors dating back to 1992.  Hat's off to POGO for putting this impressive database together.