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		<title>Government Accountability Office (GAO) Podcast: Watchdog Report</title>
		<link>https://www.gao.gov/multimedia/podcast/</link>
		<description>Featuring interviews with GAO officials on significant issues and new reports, the Watchdog Report is recorded, hosted, and produced by GAO staff.</description>
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		<lastBuildDate>Mon, 26 Oct 2020 14:41:07 -0400</lastBuildDate>

		<language>en</language>
		<copyright>GAO's products and information on GAO's Web site are not protected by copyright law in the United States and may be copied and distributed in their entirety without permission from GAO.</copyright>
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			<title>Government Accountability Office (GAO) Podcast: Watchdog Report</title>
			<link>https://www.gao.gov/multimedia/podcast/</link>

		</image>
		<itunes:summary>Featuring interviews with GAO officials on significant issues and new reports, the Watchdog Report is recorded, hosted, and produced by GAO staff.</itunes:summary>
		<itunes:subtitle>GAO - Watchdog Report</itunes:subtitle>
		<itunes:author>Government Accountability Office</itunes:author>
		<itunes:owner>
			<itunes:name>Government Accountability Office</itunes:name>
			<itunes:email>webmaster@gao.gov</itunes:email>

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		<itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit>
		<itunes:category text="Government &amp; Organizations">
		<itunes:category text="National" />
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	<item>
			<title><![CDATA[ U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Effort to Combatting Counterfeit Goods ]]></title>
			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[  ]]></itunes:subtitle> 
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[ Counterfeit goods not only infringe on intellectual property rights, but can also harm the U.S. economy and threaten consumers' health by exposing them to potentially unsafe materials. U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the agency tasked with protecting consumers and U.S. markets from these goods. However, the CBP faces a growing number of counterfeit threats. We talk with GAO's Kim Gianopoulos--an expert on intellectual property and counterfeit goods and a director in our International Affairs and Trade Team--about her new report on this issue. ]]></itunes:summary> 
			<description><![CDATA[ Counterfeit goods not only infringe on intellectual property rights, but can also harm the U.S. economy and threaten consumers' health by exposing them to potentially unsafe materials. U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the agency tasked with protecting consumers and U.S. markets from these goods. However, the CBP faces a growing number of counterfeit threats. We talk with GAO's Kim Gianopoulos--an expert on intellectual property and counterfeit goods and a director in our International Affairs and Trade Team--about her new report on this issue. ]]></description> 
			<link>https://www.gao.gov/multimedia/podcasts/709678</link>
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			<guid>709678</guid> 
			<itunes:duration>0:00:00</itunes:duration> 
			<author>webmaster@gao.gov (Government Accountability Office)</author> 
			<itunes:author>Government Accountability Office</itunes:author> 
			<itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit> 
			<pubDate>Mon, 26 Oct 2020 08:00:00 -0400</pubDate> 
		</item>

	<item>
			<title><![CDATA[ Measuring Sexual Harassment in the Workplace and Its Costs ]]></title>
			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[  ]]></itunes:subtitle> 
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[ Many workers experience sexual harassment in their workplace. However, the prevalence of workplace sexual harassment in the United States--as well as the costs to the employee and their employer--are not fully understood. We talk to Cindy Brown Barnes, an expert on employment and equal opportunity issues, and the Managing Director of our Education, Workforce and Income Security Team. ]]></itunes:summary> 
			<description><![CDATA[ Many workers experience sexual harassment in their workplace. However, the prevalence of workplace sexual harassment in the United States--as well as the costs to the employee and their employer--are not fully understood. We talk to Cindy Brown Barnes, an expert on employment and equal opportunity issues, and the Managing Director of our Education, Workforce and Income Security Team. ]]></description> 
			<link>https://www.gao.gov/multimedia/podcasts/710204</link>
			<enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/www.gao.gov/assets/720/710206.mp3" length="" type="audio/mpeg"/> 
			<guid>710204</guid> 
			<itunes:duration>0:00:00</itunes:duration> 
			<author>webmaster@gao.gov (Government Accountability Office)</author> 
			<itunes:author>Government Accountability Office</itunes:author> 
			<itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit> 
			<pubDate>Fri, 16 Oct 2020 08:00:00 -0400</pubDate> 
		</item>

	<item>
			<title><![CDATA[ The Harm of Data Breaches in Public K-12 Schools ]]></title>
			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[  ]]></itunes:subtitle> 
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[ Schools collect and store a range of information about students, including data on their grades and test scores, addresses and phone numbers, Social Security numbers, and even medical information. Disclosing this information could be harmful to students physically, emotionally, and impact their long-term financial health. We talk with GAO's Jackie Nowicki--an expert on K-12 education and school safety, and a director in our Education, Workforce, and Income Security Team--about a new GAO report on data breaches in public schools. ]]></itunes:summary> 
			<description><![CDATA[ Schools collect and store a range of information about students, including data on their grades and test scores, addresses and phone numbers, Social Security numbers, and even medical information. Disclosing this information could be harmful to students physically, emotionally, and impact their long-term financial health. We talk with GAO's Jackie Nowicki--an expert on K-12 education and school safety, and a director in our Education, Workforce, and Income Security Team--about a new GAO report on data breaches in public schools. ]]></description> 
			<link>https://www.gao.gov/multimedia/podcasts/709675</link>
			<enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/www.gao.gov/assets/710/709677.mp3" length="" type="audio/mpeg"/> 
			<guid>709675</guid> 
			<itunes:duration>0:00:00</itunes:duration> 
			<author>webmaster@gao.gov (Government Accountability Office)</author> 
			<itunes:author>Government Accountability Office</itunes:author> 
			<itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit> 
			<pubDate>Thu, 15 Oct 2020 08:00:00 -0400</pubDate> 
		</item>

	<item>
			<title><![CDATA[ COVID-19 and the Challenges for K-12 Schools in Disaster Areas ]]></title>
			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[  ]]></itunes:subtitle> 
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[ COVID-19 has proven highly disruptive to students and schools this year. But many communities face added disruptions caused by natural disasters--such as hurricanes and wildfires--which can cut electricity and internet access to communities, as well as render school facilities unusable for extended periods of time. We talk with GAO's Jackie Nowicki--an expert on K-12 education and school safety, and a director in our Education, Workforce, and Income Security Team--about her new report on the impacts disasters coupled with COVID-19 have had on schools, and the supports available to these communities. ]]></itunes:summary> 
			<description><![CDATA[ COVID-19 has proven highly disruptive to students and schools this year. But many communities face added disruptions caused by natural disasters--such as hurricanes and wildfires--which can cut electricity and internet access to communities, as well as render school facilities unusable for extended periods of time. We talk with GAO's Jackie Nowicki--an expert on K-12 education and school safety, and a director in our Education, Workforce, and Income Security Team--about her new report on the impacts disasters coupled with COVID-19 have had on schools, and the supports available to these communities. ]]></description> 
			<link>https://www.gao.gov/multimedia/podcasts/710086</link>
			<enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/www.gao.gov/assets/720/710088.mp3" length="" type="audio/mpeg"/> 
			<guid>710086</guid> 
			<itunes:duration>0:00:00</itunes:duration> 
			<author>webmaster@gao.gov (Government Accountability Office)</author> 
			<itunes:author>Government Accountability Office</itunes:author> 
			<itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit> 
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 2020 08:00:00 -0400</pubDate> 
		</item>

	<item>
			<title><![CDATA[ Protecting Air Travel from Cyberthreats ]]></title>
			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[  ]]></itunes:subtitle> 
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[ Airplanes are equipped with systems that provide information about the weather, flight location, communications, and more. While these systems are critical to flight safety, they also present opportunities for cyberattacks on commercial airplanes. We talk with GAO experts Heather Krause and Nick Marinos about a new report on the cybersecurity issues facing avionics systems. ]]></itunes:summary> 
			<description><![CDATA[ Airplanes are equipped with systems that provide information about the weather, flight location, communications, and more. While these systems are critical to flight safety, they also present opportunities for cyberattacks on commercial airplanes. We talk with GAO experts Heather Krause and Nick Marinos about a new report on the cybersecurity issues facing avionics systems. ]]></description> 
			<link>https://www.gao.gov/multimedia/podcasts/710046</link>
			<enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/www.gao.gov/assets/720/710048.mp3" length="" type="audio/mpeg"/> 
			<guid>710046</guid> 
			<itunes:duration>0:00:00</itunes:duration> 
			<author>webmaster@gao.gov (Government Accountability Office)</author> 
			<itunes:author>Government Accountability Office</itunes:author> 
			<itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit> 
			<pubDate>Fri, 09 Oct 2020 08:00:00 -0400</pubDate> 
		</item>

	<item>
			<title><![CDATA[ Testing for Lead in Child Care Facilities' Water ]]></title>
			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[ Testing for Lead in Child Care Facilities' Water ]]></itunes:subtitle> 
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[ Exposing children to lead--in contaminated water, for example--can lead to long-term health problems like anemia, kidney and brain damage, as well as learning disabilities and decreased growth. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), child care facilities may be at risk for elevated levels of lead in their drinking water because they are often closed on weekends, holidays, and extended breaks where lead in pipes and other fixtures can leach into water.<br><br>
We talk to GAO education expert Jackie Nowicki--a director in our Education, Workforce, and Income Security Team--about her recent review of lead in child care facilities. ]]></itunes:summary> 
			<description><![CDATA[ Exposing children to lead--in contaminated water, for example--can lead to long-term health problems like anemia, kidney and brain damage, as well as learning disabilities and decreased growth. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), child care facilities may be at risk for elevated levels of lead in their drinking water because they are often closed on weekends, holidays, and extended breaks where lead in pipes and other fixtures can leach into water.<br><br>
We talk to GAO education expert Jackie Nowicki--a director in our Education, Workforce, and Income Security Team--about her recent review of lead in child care facilities. ]]></description> 
			<link>https://www.gao.gov/multimedia/podcasts/709479</link>
			<enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/www.gao.gov/assets/710/709480.mp3" length="" type="audio/mpeg"/> 
			<guid>709479</guid> 
			<itunes:duration>0:00:00</itunes:duration> 
			<author>webmaster@gao.gov (Government Accountability Office)</author> 
			<itunes:author>Government Accountability Office</itunes:author> 
			<itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit> 
			<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2020 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate> 
		</item>

	<item>
			<title><![CDATA[ Actions Needed to Help Disaster Survivors Access FEMA Assistance Program ]]></title>
			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[  ]]></itunes:subtitle> 
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[ Heavy hurricanes seasons in 2017 and 2018, along with devastating wildfires in California, affected more than 47 million people in the United States--about 15 percent of the national population. In response to disaster events like these, the Federal Emergency Management Agency can provide financial assistance for home repairs, child care and transportation, as well as services to help survivors during recovery periods. However, survivors face challenges in accessing this assistance, and--with larger-scale disasters--FEMA faces challenges in giving assistance. Today we talk with GAO's Chris Currie, an expert on disaster assistance and a director in our Homeland Security and Justice Team. ]]></itunes:summary> 
			<description><![CDATA[ Heavy hurricanes seasons in 2017 and 2018, along with devastating wildfires in California, affected more than 47 million people in the United States--about 15 percent of the national population. In response to disaster events like these, the Federal Emergency Management Agency can provide financial assistance for home repairs, child care and transportation, as well as services to help survivors during recovery periods. However, survivors face challenges in accessing this assistance, and--with larger-scale disasters--FEMA faces challenges in giving assistance. Today we talk with GAO's Chris Currie, an expert on disaster assistance and a director in our Homeland Security and Justice Team. ]]></description> 
			<link>https://www.gao.gov/multimedia/podcasts/709265</link>
			<enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/www.gao.gov/assets/710/709267.mp3" length="" type="audio/mpeg"/> 
			<guid>709265</guid> 
			<itunes:duration>0:00:00</itunes:duration> 
			<author>webmaster@gao.gov (Government Accountability Office)</author> 
			<itunes:author>Government Accountability Office</itunes:author> 
			<itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit> 
			<pubDate>Wed, 30 Sep 2020 08:00:00 -0400</pubDate> 
		</item>

	<item>
			<title><![CDATA[ Protecting Water and Wastewater Facilities that House Hazardous Chemicals ]]></title>
			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[  ]]></itunes:subtitle> 
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[ Facilities that produce, use, or store hazardous chemicals can be dangerous to the communities where they are found, and could become targets of terrorists looking to inflict mass casualties and damage. In the United States, there are hundreds of thousands of these facilities, which include public water systems and wastewater treatment works. What safeguards are in place to protect communities from the risks these water facilities could potentially pose? We talk with GAO's Nathan Anderson, an expert on critical infrastructure protection and a director in our Homeland Security and Justice Team. ]]></itunes:summary> 
			<description><![CDATA[ Facilities that produce, use, or store hazardous chemicals can be dangerous to the communities where they are found, and could become targets of terrorists looking to inflict mass casualties and damage. In the United States, there are hundreds of thousands of these facilities, which include public water systems and wastewater treatment works. What safeguards are in place to protect communities from the risks these water facilities could potentially pose? We talk with GAO's Nathan Anderson, an expert on critical infrastructure protection and a director in our Homeland Security and Justice Team. ]]></description> 
			<link>https://www.gao.gov/multimedia/podcasts/709621</link>
			<enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/www.gao.gov/assets/710/709623.mp3" length="" type="audio/mpeg"/> 
			<guid>709621</guid> 
			<itunes:duration>0:00:00</itunes:duration> 
			<author>webmaster@gao.gov (Government Accountability Office)</author> 
			<itunes:author>Government Accountability Office</itunes:author> 
			<itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 29 Sep 2020 08:00:00 -0400</pubDate> 
		</item>

	<item>
			<title><![CDATA[ Veterans' Care--Challenges in Accessing Community Care and Counseling Services ]]></title>
			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[  ]]></itunes:subtitle> 
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[ The VA has taken steps to improve access to quality, timely health care. But veterans still report challenges in accessing this care. We talk with GAO's Debra Draper and Sharon Silas, two experts on veterans' health care issues, to find out more. ]]></itunes:summary> 
			<description><![CDATA[ The VA has taken steps to improve access to quality, timely health care. But veterans still report challenges in accessing this care. We talk with GAO's Debra Draper and Sharon Silas, two experts on veterans' health care issues, to find out more. ]]></description> 
			<link>https://www.gao.gov/multimedia/podcasts/709617</link>
			<enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/www.gao.gov/assets/710/709619.mp3" length="" type="audio/mpeg"/> 
			<guid>709617</guid> 
			<itunes:duration>0:00:00</itunes:duration> 
			<author>webmaster@gao.gov (Government Accountability Office)</author> 
			<itunes:author>Government Accountability Office</itunes:author> 
			<itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit> 
			<pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2020 08:00:00 -0400</pubDate> 
		</item>

	<item>
			<title><![CDATA[ Warhead Plans Could Be U.S.'s Most Expensive Nuclear Replacement Effort ]]></title>
			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[  ]]></itunes:subtitle> 
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[ Introduced in 1979, the W78 nuclear warhead is the oldest weapon in the U.S. nuclear stockpile that has not undergone a major update or replacement. Replacing this warhead could end up being the most expensive warhead replacement effort since the end of the Cold War, and could have broader implications on the Air Force and on warhead programs. We talk to Allison Bawden--an expert on U.S. nuclear weapons management and a director in our Natural Resources and Environment team--about her review of Department of Defense’s and the National Nuclear Security Administration's efforts. ]]></itunes:summary> 
			<description><![CDATA[ Introduced in 1979, the W78 nuclear warhead is the oldest weapon in the U.S. nuclear stockpile that has not undergone a major update or replacement. Replacing this warhead could end up being the most expensive warhead replacement effort since the end of the Cold War, and could have broader implications on the Air Force and on warhead programs. We talk to Allison Bawden--an expert on U.S. nuclear weapons management and a director in our Natural Resources and Environment team--about her review of Department of Defense’s and the National Nuclear Security Administration's efforts. ]]></description> 
			<link>https://www.gao.gov/multimedia/podcasts/709042</link>
			<enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/www.gao.gov/assets/710/709044.mp3" length="" type="audio/mpeg"/> 
			<guid>709042</guid> 
			<itunes:duration>0:00:00</itunes:duration> 
			<author>webmaster@gao.gov (Government Accountability Office)</author> 
			<itunes:author>Government Accountability Office</itunes:author> 
			<itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit> 
			<pubDate>Wed, 23 Sep 2020 08:00:00 -0400</pubDate> 
		</item>

	<item>
			<title><![CDATA[ Implementing a National Cybersecurity Strategy ]]></title>
			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[  ]]></itunes:subtitle> 
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[ Increasingly-sophisticated cyberthreats have underscored the need to strengthen the federal government's role in protecting critical infrastructure. These threats pose serious challenges to our economy, as well as our national security and your personal privacy. So, what is the federal government doing to prepare and protect against these threats? We talk with GAO's Nick Marinos, an expert on cybersecurity and data protection, and a director in our Information Technology and Cybersecurity Team. ]]></itunes:summary> 
			<description><![CDATA[ Increasingly-sophisticated cyberthreats have underscored the need to strengthen the federal government's role in protecting critical infrastructure. These threats pose serious challenges to our economy, as well as our national security and your personal privacy. So, what is the federal government doing to prepare and protect against these threats? We talk with GAO's Nick Marinos, an expert on cybersecurity and data protection, and a director in our Information Technology and Cybersecurity Team. ]]></description> 
			<link>https://www.gao.gov/multimedia/podcasts/709542</link>
			<enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/www.gao.gov/assets/710/709544.mp3" length="" type="audio/mpeg"/> 
			<guid>709542</guid> 
			<itunes:duration>0:00:00</itunes:duration> 
			<author>webmaster@gao.gov (Government Accountability Office)</author> 
			<itunes:author>Government Accountability Office</itunes:author> 
			<itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 22 Sep 2020 08:00:00 -0400</pubDate> 
		</item>

	<item>
			<title><![CDATA[ The Federal Response to COVID-19 Could Be Strengthened by Timely Actions ]]></title>
			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[  ]]></itunes:subtitle> 
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[ In response to COVID-19, Congress and federal agencies have taken unprecedented steps to direct funding and federal assistance to individuals, businesses, and communities. However, despite these efforts, the nation continues to face significant loss of life and profound economic disruptions. We've been monitoring and reviewing the federal response to COVID-19 and issuing by-monthly reports about our review. We talk with some of the directors who are leading GAO's effort to audit the federal response to COVID-19. ]]></itunes:summary> 
			<description><![CDATA[ In response to COVID-19, Congress and federal agencies have taken unprecedented steps to direct funding and federal assistance to individuals, businesses, and communities. However, despite these efforts, the nation continues to face significant loss of life and profound economic disruptions. We've been monitoring and reviewing the federal response to COVID-19 and issuing by-monthly reports about our review. We talk with some of the directors who are leading GAO's effort to audit the federal response to COVID-19. ]]></description> 
			<link>https://www.gao.gov/multimedia/podcasts/709476</link>
			<enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/www.gao.gov/assets/710/709478.mp3" length="" type="audio/mpeg"/> 
			<guid>709476</guid> 
			<itunes:duration>0:00:00</itunes:duration> 
			<author>webmaster@gao.gov (Government Accountability Office)</author> 
			<itunes:author>Government Accountability Office</itunes:author> 
			<itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit> 
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2020 08:00:00 -0400</pubDate> 
		</item>

	<item>
			<title><![CDATA[ USDA Assistance for Farmers Affected by Trade Disruptions and Tariffs ]]></title>
			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[  ]]></itunes:subtitle> 
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[ Last year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced its plans to assist farmers directly affected by trade disruptions and tariffs. These disruptions affected a variety of agricultural products, such as soy and pork. Since announcing its plans, USDA has distributed about 14.5 billion dollars in payments to farmers under the 2019 Market Facilitations Program. We talk with Steve Morris, an expert on federal agricultural programs and a director in our Natural Resources and Environment Team about these payments. ]]></itunes:summary> 
			<description><![CDATA[ Last year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced its plans to assist farmers directly affected by trade disruptions and tariffs. These disruptions affected a variety of agricultural products, such as soy and pork. Since announcing its plans, USDA has distributed about 14.5 billion dollars in payments to farmers under the 2019 Market Facilitations Program. We talk with Steve Morris, an expert on federal agricultural programs and a director in our Natural Resources and Environment Team about these payments. ]]></description> 
			<link>https://www.gao.gov/multimedia/podcasts/709299</link>
			<enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/www.gao.gov/assets/710/709300.mp3" length="" type="audio/mpeg"/> 
			<guid>709299</guid> 
			<itunes:duration>0:00:00</itunes:duration> 
			<author>webmaster@gao.gov (Government Accountability Office)</author> 
			<itunes:author>Government Accountability Office</itunes:author> 
			<itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit> 
			<pubDate>Mon, 14 Sep 2020 08:00:00 -0400</pubDate> 
		</item>

	<item>
			<title><![CDATA[ VA Police Use of Force at Medical Centers ]]></title>
			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[  ]]></itunes:subtitle> 
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[ The Veterans Health Administration manages medical centers that provide millions of veterans with necessary care like mental health services, critical care, and physical therapy. VA police are staffed to these facilities, and are responsible for protecting patients, staff, visitors, and property. However, there have been complaints about the VA police’s use of force.  We talk to Gretta Goodwin—an expert in law enforcement and a director in our Homeland Security and Justice team—about her recent report on VA police and use of force incidents at medical centers. ]]></itunes:summary> 
			<description><![CDATA[ The Veterans Health Administration manages medical centers that provide millions of veterans with necessary care like mental health services, critical care, and physical therapy. VA police are staffed to these facilities, and are responsible for protecting patients, staff, visitors, and property. However, there have been complaints about the VA police’s use of force.  We talk to Gretta Goodwin—an expert in law enforcement and a director in our Homeland Security and Justice team—about her recent report on VA police and use of force incidents at medical centers. ]]></description> 
			<link>https://www.gao.gov/multimedia/podcasts/709164</link>
			<enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/www.gao.gov/assets/710/709166.mp3" length="" type="audio/mpeg"/> 
			<guid>709164</guid> 
			<itunes:duration>0:00:00</itunes:duration> 
			<author>webmaster@gao.gov (Government Accountability Office)</author> 
			<itunes:author>Government Accountability Office</itunes:author> 
			<itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 08 Sep 2020 08:00:00 -0400</pubDate> 
		</item>

	<item>
			<title><![CDATA[ The Use of Sanitization Inspections in Aircraft Galleys and Lavatories ]]></title>
			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[  ]]></itunes:subtitle> 
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[ These days, many people are worried about air travel, and whether it is safe in the time of COVID-19. But even before the pandemic, GAO was looking at the cleanliness of airplanes and sanitation practices in galleys and bathrooms. We talk to GAO's Steve Morris about his recent review of FDA's role in inspecting sanitation in airplane-galleys and lavatories. ]]></itunes:summary> 
			<description><![CDATA[ These days, many people are worried about air travel, and whether it is safe in the time of COVID-19. But even before the pandemic, GAO was looking at the cleanliness of airplanes and sanitation practices in galleys and bathrooms. We talk to GAO's Steve Morris about his recent review of FDA's role in inspecting sanitation in airplane-galleys and lavatories. ]]></description> 
			<link>https://www.gao.gov/multimedia/podcasts/708969</link>
			<enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/www.gao.gov/assets/710/708970.mp3" length="" type="audio/mpeg"/> 
			<guid>708969</guid> 
			<itunes:duration>0:00:00</itunes:duration> 
			<author>webmaster@gao.gov (Government Accountability Office)</author> 
			<itunes:author>Government Accountability Office</itunes:author> 
			<itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 08 Sep 2020 08:00:00 -0400</pubDate> 
		</item>

	<item>
			<title><![CDATA[ How does Industry-Led Independent Research and Development Fit into DOD Planning? ]]></title>
			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[  ]]></itunes:subtitle> 
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[ Leveraging independent research and development projects conducted by the defense industry in high-tech areas, like cybersecurity and biotechnology, can help the U.S. military maintain battlefield superiority. While the amount and the focus of investments is up to those contractors, the Department of Defense reimburses them to the tune of about $4 to $5 billion annually. However, there are concerns that DOD isn't taking full advantage of this research. We talk with Tim DiNapoli, an expert on military contracting and a director in our Contracting and National Security Acquisitions Team. ]]></itunes:summary> 
			<description><![CDATA[ Leveraging independent research and development projects conducted by the defense industry in high-tech areas, like cybersecurity and biotechnology, can help the U.S. military maintain battlefield superiority. While the amount and the focus of investments is up to those contractors, the Department of Defense reimburses them to the tune of about $4 to $5 billion annually. However, there are concerns that DOD isn't taking full advantage of this research. We talk with Tim DiNapoli, an expert on military contracting and a director in our Contracting and National Security Acquisitions Team. ]]></description> 
			<link>https://www.gao.gov/multimedia/podcasts/709138</link>
			<enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/www.gao.gov/assets/710/709144.mp3" length="" type="audio/mpeg"/> 
			<guid>709138</guid> 
			<itunes:duration>0:00:00</itunes:duration> 
			<author>webmaster@gao.gov (Government Accountability Office)</author> 
			<itunes:author>Government Accountability Office</itunes:author> 
			<itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit> 
			<pubDate>Thu, 03 Sep 2020 08:00:00 -0400</pubDate> 
		</item>

	<item>
			<title><![CDATA[ The Benefits of Recycling Consumer Electronics ]]></title>
			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[  ]]></itunes:subtitle> 
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[ Before you throw out your old smartphone, you might want to consider the benefits of recycling it. Consumer electronics like your old smartphone, contain critical materials such as gold, platinum, and rare earth metals that are both limited in supply and valuable. We talked to GAO's Karen Howard--a director in our Science, Technology Assessment, and Analytics team--about how recycling your old smartphone and other electronics could help extend the supply of critical materials, and reduce the U.S.’s reliance on importing these items. ]]></itunes:summary> 
			<description><![CDATA[ Before you throw out your old smartphone, you might want to consider the benefits of recycling it. Consumer electronics like your old smartphone, contain critical materials such as gold, platinum, and rare earth metals that are both limited in supply and valuable. We talked to GAO's Karen Howard--a director in our Science, Technology Assessment, and Analytics team--about how recycling your old smartphone and other electronics could help extend the supply of critical materials, and reduce the U.S.’s reliance on importing these items. ]]></description> 
			<link>https://www.gao.gov/multimedia/podcasts/709039</link>
			<enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/www.gao.gov/assets/710/709041.mp3" length="" type="audio/mpeg"/> 
			<guid>709039</guid> 
			<itunes:duration>0:00:00</itunes:duration> 
			<author>webmaster@gao.gov (Government Accountability Office)</author> 
			<itunes:author>Government Accountability Office</itunes:author> 
			<itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit> 
			<pubDate>Mon, 31 Aug 2020 08:00:00 -0400</pubDate> 
		</item>

	<item>
			<title><![CDATA[ Changes to FAA's Aviation Safety Enforcement Policies ]]></title>
			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[  ]]></itunes:subtitle> 
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[ Air travel in the U.S. is one of the safest in the world. The Federal Aviation Administration--or FAA--helps ensure that safety by enforcing standards for air carriers, pilots, airports, and other parts of the aviation system. However, recent events have raised questions about the effectiveness of FAA's enforcement efforts.  We talked with GAO's Heather Krause to learn more. ]]></itunes:summary> 
			<description><![CDATA[ Air travel in the U.S. is one of the safest in the world. The Federal Aviation Administration--or FAA--helps ensure that safety by enforcing standards for air carriers, pilots, airports, and other parts of the aviation system. However, recent events have raised questions about the effectiveness of FAA's enforcement efforts.  We talked with GAO's Heather Krause to learn more. ]]></description> 
			<link>https://www.gao.gov/multimedia/podcasts/708848</link>
			<enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/www.gao.gov/assets/710/708850.mp3" length="" type="audio/mpeg"/> 
			<guid>708848</guid> 
			<itunes:duration>0:00:00</itunes:duration> 
			<author>webmaster@gao.gov (Government Accountability Office)</author> 
			<itunes:author>Government Accountability Office</itunes:author> 
			<itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2020 08:00:00 -0400</pubDate> 
		</item>

	<item>
			<title><![CDATA[ Expanded Use of Facial Recognition Technology has Increased Privacy and Accuracy Concerns ]]></title>
			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[  ]]></itunes:subtitle> 
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[ The use of facial recognition technology to identify an individual has increased in recent years--leading to growing concerns about how it impacts privacy, and how accurate it is. We discuss with GAO's Alicia Puente Cackley, a director in our Financial Markets and Community Investment team, who has a new report on facial recognition technology. ]]></itunes:summary> 
			<description><![CDATA[ The use of facial recognition technology to identify an individual has increased in recent years--leading to growing concerns about how it impacts privacy, and how accurate it is. We discuss with GAO's Alicia Puente Cackley, a director in our Financial Markets and Community Investment team, who has a new report on facial recognition technology. ]]></description> 
			<link>https://www.gao.gov/multimedia/podcasts/707891</link>
			<enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/www.gao.gov/assets/710/707893.mp3" length="" type="audio/mpeg"/> 
			<guid>707891</guid> 
			<itunes:duration>0:00:00</itunes:duration> 
			<author>webmaster@gao.gov (Government Accountability Office)</author> 
			<itunes:author>Government Accountability Office</itunes:author> 
			<itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 2020 08:00:00 -0400</pubDate> 
		</item>

	<item>
			<title><![CDATA[ When Grandparents Become Caregivers for Children ]]></title>
			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[  ]]></itunes:subtitle> 
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[ When grandparents become the primary caregivers for children, they can face financial and other challenges. GAO's Kathy Larin discusses in today’s Watchdog Report. ]]></itunes:summary> 
			<description><![CDATA[ When grandparents become the primary caregivers for children, they can face financial and other challenges. GAO's Kathy Larin discusses in today’s Watchdog Report. ]]></description> 
			<link>https://www.gao.gov/multimedia/podcasts/707547</link>
			<enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/www.gao.gov/assets/710/707549.mp3" length="" type="audio/mpeg"/> 
			<guid>707547</guid> 
			<itunes:duration>0:00:00</itunes:duration> 
			<author>webmaster@gao.gov (Government Accountability Office)</author> 
			<itunes:author>Government Accountability Office</itunes:author> 
			<itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit> 
			<pubDate>Mon, 10 Aug 2020 08:00:00 -0400</pubDate> 
		</item>

	<item>
			<title><![CDATA[ 30 Years of Reforms to Financial Management under Chief Financial Officer Act ]]></title>
			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[  ]]></itunes:subtitle> 
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[ It's been nearly 30 years since the enactment of the Chief Financial Officers Act, legislation that, at the time, was heralded as a comprehensive reform that would modernize the government's financial management leadership structure in order to better manage and safeguard taxpayer provided resources and manage government costs. So, did it work? We talked to GAO's Dawn Simpson, an expert on federal financial management and a director in our Financial Management and Assurance team about her recent review of the CFO Act. ]]></itunes:summary> 
			<description><![CDATA[ It's been nearly 30 years since the enactment of the Chief Financial Officers Act, legislation that, at the time, was heralded as a comprehensive reform that would modernize the government's financial management leadership structure in order to better manage and safeguard taxpayer provided resources and manage government costs. So, did it work? We talked to GAO's Dawn Simpson, an expert on federal financial management and a director in our Financial Management and Assurance team about her recent review of the CFO Act. ]]></description> 
			<link>https://www.gao.gov/multimedia/podcasts/708598</link>
			<enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/www.gao.gov/assets/710/708604.mp3" length="" type="audio/mpeg"/> 
			<guid>708598</guid> 
			<itunes:duration>0:00:00</itunes:duration> 
			<author>webmaster@gao.gov (Government Accountability Office)</author> 
			<itunes:author>Government Accountability Office</itunes:author> 
			<itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit> 
			<pubDate>Thu, 06 Aug 2020 08:00:00 -0400</pubDate> 
		</item>

	<item>
			<title><![CDATA[ HHS's Use of New Public-Private Partnerships to Develop Countermeasures for Diseases ]]></title>
			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[  ]]></itunes:subtitle> 
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[ The coronavirus pandemic, as well as past infectious disease outbreaks, have raised concerns about our nation's vulnerability and capacity to respond to health threats. In 2016, Congress authorized the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to form public-private partnerships with nonprofit entities in order to develop countermeasures--such as vaccines and tests--to diagnose, treat and prevent diseases. We interviewed GAO's Mary Denigan-Macauley, a health care policy expert, to learn more. ]]></itunes:summary> 
			<description><![CDATA[ The coronavirus pandemic, as well as past infectious disease outbreaks, have raised concerns about our nation's vulnerability and capacity to respond to health threats. In 2016, Congress authorized the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to form public-private partnerships with nonprofit entities in order to develop countermeasures--such as vaccines and tests--to diagnose, treat and prevent diseases. We interviewed GAO's Mary Denigan-Macauley, a health care policy expert, to learn more. ]]></description> 
			<link>https://www.gao.gov/multimedia/podcasts/708469</link>
			<enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/www.gao.gov/assets/710/708471.mp3" length="" type="audio/mpeg"/> 
			<guid>708469</guid> 
			<itunes:duration>0:00:00</itunes:duration> 
			<author>webmaster@gao.gov (Government Accountability Office)</author> 
			<itunes:author>Government Accountability Office</itunes:author> 
			<itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit> 
			<pubDate>Wed, 29 Jul 2020 08:00:00 -0400</pubDate> 
		</item>

	<item>
			<title><![CDATA[ Programs Designed to Help Workers Facing Economic Disruptions ]]></title>
			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[  ]]></itunes:subtitle> 
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[ U.S. workers, companies, and communities have often needed to alter how they work or operate because of external forces, such as trade agreements and defense or energy policy changes. Perhaps no single shift has impacted workers and companies like the disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic. We talk to Cindy Brown Barnes about a recent review of federal programs meant to help workers adjust to these disruptions. ]]></itunes:summary> 
			<description><![CDATA[ U.S. workers, companies, and communities have often needed to alter how they work or operate because of external forces, such as trade agreements and defense or energy policy changes. Perhaps no single shift has impacted workers and companies like the disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic. We talk to Cindy Brown Barnes about a recent review of federal programs meant to help workers adjust to these disruptions. ]]></description> 
			<link>https://www.gao.gov/multimedia/podcasts/708336</link>
			<enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/www.gao.gov/assets/710/708338.mp3" length="" type="audio/mpeg"/> 
			<guid>708336</guid> 
			<itunes:duration>0:00:00</itunes:duration> 
			<author>webmaster@gao.gov (Government Accountability Office)</author> 
			<itunes:author>Government Accountability Office</itunes:author> 
			<itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit> 
			<pubDate>Wed, 29 Jul 2020 08:00:00 -0400</pubDate> 
		</item>

	<item>
			<title><![CDATA[ Changes in Over-The-Counter Drug Regulations ]]></title>
			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[  ]]></itunes:subtitle> 
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[ Over-the-counter drugs are made available to consumers without a prescription. Until recently, the FDA regulated most over-the-counter drugs using a process established almost 50 years ago (in the 1970s). Today we talk to GAO's John Dicken, a health policy expert, about new legislation that significantly changes this process. ]]></itunes:summary> 
			<description><![CDATA[ Over-the-counter drugs are made available to consumers without a prescription. Until recently, the FDA regulated most over-the-counter drugs using a process established almost 50 years ago (in the 1970s). Today we talk to GAO's John Dicken, a health policy expert, about new legislation that significantly changes this process. ]]></description> 
			<link>https://www.gao.gov/multimedia/podcasts/708055</link>
			<enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/www.gao.gov/assets/710/708056.mp3" length="" type="audio/mpeg"/> 
			<guid>708055</guid> 
			<itunes:duration>0:00:00</itunes:duration> 
			<author>webmaster@gao.gov (Government Accountability Office)</author> 
			<itunes:author>Government Accountability Office</itunes:author> 
			<itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit> 
			<pubDate>Wed, 29 Jul 2020 08:00:00 -0400</pubDate> 
		</item>

	<item>
			<title><![CDATA[ Contact Tracing Technology in the COVID-19 Era ]]></title>
			<itunes:subtitle><![CDATA[  ]]></itunes:subtitle> 
			<itunes:summary><![CDATA[ Contact tracing may help reduce transmission rates for infectious diseases like COVID-19 by identifying and notifying people who may have been exposed. New technology, such as apps that can be downloaded to cellphones, could expedite contact tracing efforts. However, these apps also present challenges such as adoption rates and privacy concerns. We talk to GAO’s Karen Howard to learn more. ]]></itunes:summary> 
			<description><![CDATA[ Contact tracing may help reduce transmission rates for infectious diseases like COVID-19 by identifying and notifying people who may have been exposed. New technology, such as apps that can be downloaded to cellphones, could expedite contact tracing efforts. However, these apps also present challenges such as adoption rates and privacy concerns. We talk to GAO’s Karen Howard to learn more. ]]></description> 
			<link>https://www.gao.gov/multimedia/podcasts/708400</link>
			<enclosure url="https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/www.gao.gov/assets/710/708402.mp3" length="" type="audio/mpeg"/> 
			<guid>708400</guid> 
			<itunes:duration>0:00:00</itunes:duration> 
			<author>webmaster@gao.gov (Government Accountability Office)</author> 
			<itunes:author>Government Accountability Office</itunes:author> 
			<itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit> 
			<pubDate>Tue, 28 Jul 2020 08:00:00 -0400</pubDate> 
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