Gas-Guzzling Federal Fleet

Despite efforts by the Obama administration to push the use of economic stimulus funds to update the federal fleet with more fuel-efficient vehicles, federal agencies' gas consumption is on the rise, Federal Times reports.

General Services Administration data indicate the total amount agencies consumed (excluding gas used in military vehicles) jumped 7 percent last year, the biggest increase in five years.

What accounts for the jump in fuel consumption? One big factor is a growing fleet of law enforcement vehicles across several agencies, which are exempt from federal mandates to cut down on petroleum use.