Using data from the "Federal Outlays" published by the Community Services Administration, data on federal outlays in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan counties for fiscal 1976 were analyzed. The outlays programs were divided into seven major program area categories: human resource development, housing, community and industrial development, agriculture and natural resources, defense and space, justice and law enforcement, and general functions and government administration. In addition to data previously reported in annual Presidential reports on government services to rural America, data on about 400 outlays program categories were added. For the most part, the new programs involved direct federal government operations rather than assistance to state and local governments. Several programs reflecting federal administrative and procurement expenses were also included. Of the $385.2 billion in federal government outlays reported by the Community Services Administration for fiscal 1976, $314.5 billion were traced to individual counties. Over 76% of these outlays were made in metropolitan counties. Since the population in metropolitan counties in 1975 comprised 72.8% of the U.S. total, per capita federal outlays were higher in metropolitan areas ($1,555) than in nonmetropolitan areas ($1,271). Regionally, per capita outlays were highest in the West ($1,887) and South ($1,599) and below average in the Northeastern ($1,323) and North Central ($1,192) regions. For all regions, per capita outlays were highest in declining metropolitan counties and lowest in growing nonmetropolitan counties. (AUTHOR/NQ)