<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM THE ANNUAL REPORT OF AMERICAN CENTURY GOVERNMENT INCOME
TRUST AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH REPORT.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000773674
<NAME> AMERICAN CENTURY GOVERNMENT INCOME TRUST
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 53
<NAME> SHORT-TERM TREASURY FUND - ADVISOR CLASS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 60,499,078
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 60,282,768
<RECEIVABLES> 6,785,429
<ASSETS-OTHER> 95,468
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 67,163,665
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 5,822,844
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 35,710
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 5,858,554
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 1,695
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 62,566,512
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 169,451
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 362,231
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (1,046,786)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (216,310)
<NET-ASSETS> 61,305,111
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 3,666,686
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 349,580
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 3,317,106
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (1,041,720)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (319,091)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 1,956,295
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (130,408)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (807)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 564,018
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (720,430)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 10,801
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (3,579,920)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 20,973
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 333,519
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 349,580
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 2,816,347
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.85
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.46
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.21)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.46)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.64
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.76
</TABLE>
