VIA EDGAR
February 2, 1998
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20549
Re: Putnam U.S. Government Income Trust (Reg. No. 2-87634) (811-
3897) (the "Fund")
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Pursuant to Rule 497(j) under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, the Fund hereby certifies that the form of prospectus
and Statement of Additional Information that would have been
filed on behalf of the Fund pursuant to Rule 497(c) upon the
effectiveness of Post-Effective Amendment No. 17 to the Fund's
Registration Statement on Form N-1A (the "Amendment") would not
have differed from that contained in the Amendment, which is the
most recent amendment to such Registration Statement and was
filed electronically on January 29, 1998.
Comments or questions concerning this certificate may be
directed to Anne B. McCarthy at 1-800-225-2465, ext. 11010.
Very truly yours,
PUTNAM U. S. GOVERNMENT
INCOME TRUST
/s/ Gordon H. Silver
By: ----------------------------------
Gordon H. Silver
Vice President
cc: William Shields (R&G)
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