Presented are data taken from a forthcoming report, An Analysis of Federal Research and Development (R&D) Funding by Function, Fiscal Years 1969-76. The 14 function categories were chosen to make visible the most important R&D objectives in the 1976 budget. Data are additive to 100 percent, and thus each program appears only under a function that embraces its primary purpose and not under headings that relate to secondary purposes. Among the 14 functions those that reflect noted increases are national defense, space, energy, and the education function. Both tabulated and descriptive data are presented. Other functions listed and discussed include: the health function, registering a 12 percent decline; the environment function, which is having one of its highest growth rates; science and technology, showing study growth; natural resources; and transportation and communication. The two largest programs making up four-fifths of the function total are NSF's Scientific Research Project Support and ERDA's physical research program. (Author/EB)