| POWER OF ATTORNEY |
We, the undersigned Trustees and officers of each of the Trusts listed on Schedule A hereto, hereby severally constitute and appoint Jameson A. Baxter, Kenneth R. Leibler, George Putnam III, Jonathan S. Horwitz, Bryan Chegwidden and James E. Thomas, and each of them singly, our true and lawful attorneys, with full power to them and each of them, to sign for us, and in our names and in the capacities indicated below, the Registration Statements on Form N-14 of each of the Trusts listed on Schedule A hereto and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to said Registration Statements and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto our said attorneys, and each of them acting alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, and hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys or any of them may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
| WITNESS my hand and seal on the date set forth below. | ||
| Signature | Title | Date |
| /s/ Jameson A. Baxter | Chair of the Board and Trustee | January 26, 2018 |
| Jameson A. Baxter | ||
| /s/ Kenneth R. Leibler | Vice Chair of the Board and Trustee | January 26, 2018 |
| Kenneth R. Leibler | ||
| /s/ Robert L. Reynolds | President and Trustee | January 26, 2018 |
| Robert L. Reynolds | ||
| /s/ Jonathan S. Horwitz | Executive Vice President, Principal | January 26, 2018 |
| Jonathan S. Horwitz | Executive Officer and Compliance | |
| Liaison | ||
| /s/ Janet C. Smith | Vice President, Principal Financial | January 29, 2018 |
| Janet C. Smith | Officer, Principal Accounting | |
| Officer and Assistant Treasurer | ||
| /s/ Liaquat Ahamed | Trustee | January 26, 2018 |
| Liaquat Ahamed | ||
| /s/ Ravi Akhoury | Trustee | January 26, 2018 |
| Ravi Akhoury | ||
| /s/ Barbara M. Baumann | Trustee | January 26, 2018 |
| Barbara M. Baumann | ||
| /s/ Katinka Domotorffy | Trustee | January 26, 2018 |
| Katinka Domotorffy | ||
| /s/ Catharine Bond Hill | Trustee | January 26, 2018 |
| Catharine Bond Hill | ||
| /s/ Paul L. Joskow | Trustee | January 26, 2018 |
| Paul L. Joskow | ||
| /s/ Robert E. Patterson | Trustee | January 26, 2018 |
| Robert E. Patterson | ||
| /s/ George Putnam, III | Trustee | January 26, 2018 |
| George Putnam, III | ||
| /s/ Manoj P. Singh | Trustee | January 26, 2018 |
| Manoj P. Singh | ||
Schedule A
Registration Statement of Putnam U.S. Government Income Trust on Form N-14 relating to the proposed merger of Putnam American Government Income Fund with and into Putnam U.S. Government Income Trust.
Registration Statement of Putnam Funds Trust on Form N-14 relating to the proposed merger of Putnam Absolute Return 500 Fund with and into Putnam Absolute Return 700 Fund.
