<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Kemper
Short-Term U.S. Government Fund Annual Report for the fiscal year ended
08/31/2000 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial
statments.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000814955
<NAME> KEMPER SHORT TERM U.S. GOVERNMENT FUND
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 001
<NAME> KEMPER SHORT TERM U.S. GOVERNMENT FUND
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-2000
<PERIOD-START> SEP-01-1999
<PERIOD-END> AUG-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 163,961,366
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 163,316,084
<RECEIVABLES> 7,511,068
<ASSETS-OTHER> 141
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 675
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 170,827,968
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 6,228,750
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 1,202,651
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 7,431,401
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 178,983,173
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 15,228,804
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 17,876,000
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 214,535
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 15,155,859
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (645,282)
<NET-ASSETS> 163,396,567
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 12,297,351
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 2,681,947
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 9,615,404
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (2,877,074)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 2,039,293
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 8,777,623
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (7,151,664)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 148,313,604
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (174,869,758)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 5,594,343
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (38,017,490)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 207,000
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 12,248,000
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 1,026,842
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 2,681,947
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 135,522,566
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 7.99
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.43
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.03)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.42)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 7.97
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.25
</TABLE>
