Just before the government shutdown, the Pentagon spent $139 million on sonar for some of its destroyers, part of $5.5 billion in last-minute spending. Source: US Navy

Just hours before Congress shut down the federal government and put hundreds of thousands of federal workers out of work, the Pentagon quietly went on a shopping spree and spent billions. The Defense Department awarded 94 contracts totaling more than $5.5 billion on everything from Mercedes-Benz trucks and robot submarines to a new gym at the Air Force Academy, complete with a television studio, Foreign Policy first reported.

Then a few hours later, the government shut down and 400,000 DOD civilian employees were furloughed until further notice. The Pentagon awards hundreds of millions of dollars in pre-approved contracts to companies every day, but it typically spends more on the last day of the fiscal year.

This time, however, was a different story, since Congress still hasn't approved a budget to fund the government for the New Year. Leaving all departments and federal workers in limbo until the standstill on Capitol Hill is resolved.

Here's a sample of what was in DOD's shopping cart Monday night: $2.5 billion for "spare parts" used by the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. The contract was awarded by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to Connecticut-based aircraft engine-maker Pratt & Whitney. $230 million for the continuing operation of the X-band radar station that the Missile Defense Agency uses to detect ballistic missile launches. The contract was awarded to Massachusetts-based Raytheon. $200 million for body armor and tactical vests made by Federal Prisons Industries to sell to other countries.