WASHINGTON, D.C. --- The federal government is accelerating its timetable for purchasing about 17,600 fuel-efficient vehicles in hopes of assisting the domestic automakers, the White House announced April 9. 

"As part of our commitment to the American auto industry, I charged my administration with using Recovery Act funds to purchase a new fleet of fuel-efficient government vehicles to increase demand for our American auto companies and stimulate the economy," President Obama said in a released statement.

These plans include a purchase order of 2,500 hybrid sedans by April 15. 

The government will use $285 million in stimulus funds to purchase all the vehicles before June 1. The accelerated purchase order has been placed exclusively with General Motors, Ford and Chrysler. 

Every vehicle that's part of the overall purchase must have a more fuel-efficient rating than the vehicle it replaces in the fleet.