<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM THE SEMI-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> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 54,600,051
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 54,867,758
<RECEIVABLES> 879,786
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 55,747,544
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 107,251
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 107,251
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 1,274
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 56,547,722
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 127,354
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 169,451
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (1,176,410)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 267,707
<NET-ASSETS> 55,640,293
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 1,886,246
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 150,773
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 1,735,653
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (129,624)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 484,017
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 2,090,046
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (42,223)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 7,227
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (53,343)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 4,019
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (5,664,818)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 20,973
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 146,084
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 150,773
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 1,475,684
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.64
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.28
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.06
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.28)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.70
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.76
</TABLE>
