set the fox to guard the henhouse

Putting somebody in charge of a job, when they have a conflict of interest. Often used to refer to industry "self-regulation" or to putting an industry insider on the board that regulates that industry, e.g., appointing an executive of Comcast as chairman of the FCC.

Can also refer to a similar problem in private industry, e.g., putting the manager of a failed project in charge of the investigation into why the project failed.

Mike Taylor has been appointed to head the Food Safety Working Group at the FDA. The President has set the fox to guard the henhouse.

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