<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 A000000 01/31/2000
000 C000000 0000769220
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 6.1
000 J000000 U
001 A000000 DELAWARE GROUP GOVERNMENT FUND
001 B000000 811-4304
001 C000000 2152552127
002 A000000 2005 MARKET STREET
002 B000000 PHILADELPHIA
002 C000000 PA
002 D010000 19103
003 000000 N
004 000000 N
005 000000 N
006 000000 N
007 A000000 Y
007 B000000 1
007 C010100 1
007 C020100 DELAWARE GROUP AMERICAN GOVERNMENT BOND FUND
007 C030100 N
020 A000001 MERRILL LYNCH PIERCE
020 B000001 13-5674085
020 C000001 981
020 A000002 SALOMON SMITH BARNEY
020 B000002 11-2418191
020 C000002 718
020 A000003 MORGAN STANLEY AND CO INC.
020 B000003 13-2655998
020 C000003 623
020 A000004 BT ALEX BROWN
020 B000004 13-3311934
020 C000004 418
020 A000005 PAINE WEBBER INC.
020 B000005 13-2638166
020 C000005 373
020 A000006 FIDELITY CAPITAL MARKETS
020 C000006 345
020 A000007 DONALDSON LUFKIN JENRETTE
020 B000007 13-2341729
020 C000007 341
020 A000008 CANTOR AND FITZGERALD
020 B000008 13-3680184
020 C000008 333
020 A000009 CREDIT SWISS FIRST BOSTON
020 B000009 13-5659485
020 C000009 321
<PAGE> PAGE 2
020 A000010 LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
020 B000010 13-2518466
020 C000010 298
021 000000 4751
022 A000001 LUMMIS AND CO
022 B000001 04-3200030
022 C000001 3955
022 D000001 0
022 A000002 LEHMAN BROTHERS INC
022 B000002 13-2518466
022 C000002 2574
022 D000002 196
022 A000003 MORGAN GURANTY
022 C000003 2422
022 D000003 91
022 A000004 GOLDMAN SACHS AND CO
022 B000004 13-5108880
022 C000004 1737
022 D000004 290
022 A000005 MERRILL LYNCH PIERCE
022 B000005 13-5674085
022 C000005 1798
022 D000005 214
022 A000006 MORGAN STANLEY AND CO INC
022 B000006 13-2655998
022 C000006 1329
022 D000006 588
022 A000007 CREDIT SWISS FIRST BOSTON
022 B000007 13-5659485
022 C000007 1084
022 D000007 149
022 A000008 PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES
022 B000008 22-2347336
022 C000008 138
022 D000008 301
022 A000009 STARBOARD CAPITAL MARKETS INC
022 B000009 23-2770786
022 C000009 228
022 D000009 149
022 A000010 J.P. MORGAN AND CO
022 B000010 13-3224016
022 C000010 208
022 D000010 78
023 C000000 15473
023 D000000 2056
027 000000 Y
077 A000000 Y
077 Q010000 Y
024 000100 N
028 A010100 3834
028 A020100 629
<PAGE> PAGE 3
028 A030100 0
028 A040100 5865
028 B010100 4726
028 B020100 640
028 B030100 0
028 B040100 5157
028 C010100 6146
028 C020100 616
028 C030100 0
028 C040100 6403
028 D010100 6427
028 D020100 644
028 D030100 0
028 D040100 9308
028 E010100 3989
028 E020100 588
028 E030100 0
028 E040100 9613
028 F010100 3574
028 F020100 613
028 F030100 0
028 F040100 7570
028 G010100 28696
028 G020100 3730
028 G030100 0
028 G040100 43916
028 H000100 18256
029 000100 Y
030 A000100 125
030 B000100 4.75
030 C000100 0.00
031 A000100 6
031 B000100 0
032 000100 119
033 000100 0
042 A000100 0
042 B000100 0
042 C000100 0
042 D000100 100
042 E000100 0
042 F000100 0
042 G000100 0
042 H000100 0
043 000100 630
044 000100 0
062 A000100 Y
062 B000100 0.0
062 C000100 0.0
062 D000100 0.0
062 E000100 0.0
062 F000100 0.0
<PAGE> PAGE 4
062 G000100 0.0
062 H000100 0.0
062 I000100 0.0
062 J000100 0.0
062 K000100 0.0
062 L000100 0.0
062 M000100 34.5
062 N000100 1.6
062 O000100 0.0
062 P000100 11.2
062 Q000100 51.5
062 R000100 0.0
063 A000100 0
063 B000100 8.0
064 A000100 N
070 A010100 Y
070 A020100 Y
070 B010100 N
070 B020100 N
070 C010100 Y
070 C020100 N
070 D010100 N
070 D020100 N
070 E010100 Y
070 E020100 N
070 F010100 N
070 F020100 N
070 G010100 Y
070 G020100 Y
070 H010100 N
070 H020100 N
070 I010100 N
070 I020100 N
070 J010100 Y
070 J020100 N
070 K010100 N
070 K020100 N
070 L010100 Y
070 L020100 N
070 M010100 N
070 M020100 N
070 N010100 Y
070 N020100 N
070 O010100 Y
070 O020100 N
070 P010100 Y
070 P020100 N
070 Q010100 N
070 Q020100 N
070 R010100 N
070 R020100 N
<PAGE> PAGE 5
071 A000100 73943
071 B000100 88364
071 C000100 161005
071 D000100 46
072 A000100 6
072 B000100 6494
072 C000100 0
072 D000100 0
072 E000100 0
072 F000100 448
072 G000100 33
072 H000100 0
072 I000100 304
072 J000100 3
072 K000100 0
072 L000100 15
072 M000100 2
072 N000100 9
072 O000100 0
072 P000100 0
072 Q000100 0
072 R000100 2
072 S000100 2
072 T000100 286
072 U000100 0
072 V000100 0
072 W000100 1
072 X000100 1105
072 Y000100 0
072 Z000100 5389
072AA000100 56
072BB000100 3718
072CC010100 0
072CC020100 1457
072DD010100 5396
072DD020100 0
072EE000100 0
073 A010100 0.2410
073 A020100 0.0000
073 B000100 0.0000
073 C000100 0.0000
074 A000100 136
074 B000100 827
074 C000100 0
074 D000100 148976
074 E000100 0
074 F000100 0
074 G000100 0
074 H000100 0
074 I000100 0
074 J000100 6900
<PAGE> PAGE 6
074 K000100 0
074 L000100 2360
074 M000100 0
074 N000100 159199
074 O000100 6847
074 P000100 0
074 Q000100 0
074 R010100 0
074 R020100 0
074 R030100 0
074 R040100 832
074 S000100 0
074 T000100 151520
074 U010100 21436
074 U020100 0
074 V010100 7.07
074 V020100 0.00
074 W000100 0.0000
074 X000100 6737
074 Y000100 4840
075 A000100 0
075 B000100 162834
076 000100 0.00
SIGNATURE KENNETH E. CROCKETT, SR.
TITLE BLUE SKY ADMIN
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000769220
<NAME> DELAWARE GROUP GOVERNMENT FUND
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 011
<NAME> DELAWARE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT BOND FUND A CLASS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> JAN-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 155,827,077
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 149,803,122
<RECEIVABLES> 9,259,755
<ASSETS-OTHER> 302
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 136,160
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 159,199,339
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 6,847,306
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 831,870
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 7,679,179
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 200,106,723
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 0
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 14,496,007
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 15,622,069
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 22,812
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (42,634,426)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (5,929,322)
<NET-ASSETS> 102,465,800
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 6,494,151
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 1,105,105
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 5,389,046
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (3,661,535)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (1,457,572)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 269,939
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 3,643,534
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 2,527,734
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 3,967,702
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 313,906
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (16,614,683)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (38,972,891)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 15,630
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 448,091
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1,109,845
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 109,225,572
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 7.300
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.240
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.229)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.241
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.000
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 7.070
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.290
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000769220
<NAME> DELAWARE GROUP GOVERNMENT FUND
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 012
<NAME> DELAWARE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT BOND FUND B CLASS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> JAN-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 155,827,077
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 149,803,122
<RECEIVABLES> 9,259,755
<ASSETS-OTHER> 302
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 136,160
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 159,199,339
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 6,847,306
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 831,870
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 7,679,179
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 200,106,723
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 0
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 2,626,502
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 2,623,194
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 22,812
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (42,634,426)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (5,929,322)
<NET-ASSETS> 18,565,485
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 6,494,151
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 1,105,105
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 5,389,046
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (3,661,535)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (1,457,572)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 269,939
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 582,765
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 623,983
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 666,431
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 45,756
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (16,614,683)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (38,972,891)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 15,630
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 448,091
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1,109,845
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 19,505,596
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 7.300
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.215
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.230)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.215
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.000
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 7.070
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.990
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000769220
<NAME> DELAWARE GROUP GOVERNMENT FUND
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 013
<NAME> DELAWARE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT BOND FUND C CLASS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> JAN-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 155,827,077
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 149,803,122
<RECEIVABLES> 9,259,755
<ASSETS-OTHER> 302
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 136,160
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 159,199,339
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 6,847,306
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 831,870
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 7,679,179
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 200,106,723
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 0
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 480,385
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 558,619
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 22,812
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (42,634,426)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (5,929,322)
<NET-ASSETS> 3,395,619
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 6,494,151
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 1,105,105
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 5,389,046
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (3,661,535)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (1,457,572)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 269,939
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 118,823
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 145,755
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 238,779
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 14,790
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (16,614,683)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (38,972,891)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 15,630
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 448,091
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1,109,845
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 3,971,540
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 7.300
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.215
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.230)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.215
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.000
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 7.070
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.990
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000769220
<NAME> DELAWARE GROUP GOVERNMENT FUND
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 014
<NAME> DELAWARE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT BOND FUND INSTITUTIONAL
CLASS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> JAN-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 155,827,077
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 149,803,122
<RECEIVABLES> 9,259,755
<ASSETS-OTHER> 302
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 136,160
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 159,199,339
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 6,847,306
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 831,870
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 7,679,179
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 200,106,723
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 0
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 3,832,943
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 4,231,041
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 22,812
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (42,634,426)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (5,929,322)
<NET-ASSETS> 27,093,262
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 6,494,151
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 1,105,105
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 5,389,046
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (3,661,535)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (1,457,572)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 269,939
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 1,051,106
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 679,231
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 1,221,893
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 144,564
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (16,614,683)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (38,972,891)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 15,630
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 448,091
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1,109,845
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 30,131,064
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 7.300
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.252
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.230)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.252
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.000
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 7.070
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.990
</TABLE>