Do not be distracted, the wood chipper is not about waste. It’s crucial not to be misled: the focus on cutting programs like food stamps is not genuinely about eliminating waste. While the ostensible goal may be to root out waste and fraud, the selective scrutiny applied by Elon Musk’s administration tells a different story.

Programs vital to low-income Americans are being disproportionately targeted. Yes, like any large program, there may be inefficiencies or even fraud within food assistance programs. However, this focus obscures a more significant issue: the lack of scrutiny applied to far more costly initiatives.

Take, for instance, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s subsidy programs, which funnel over $20 billion annually to predominantly affluent farmers. As highlighted by Michael Grunwald’s guest essay in The New York Times, these beneficiaries also enjoy a plethora of additional supports: subsidized loans, minimal-condition loans, price supports, import quotas that artificially inflate food prices, generous ad hoc aid for weather and market fluctuations, and mandates that promote environmentally harmful biofuels.

Since the real goal is to further redistribute wealth to the wealthy, these unfair programs are left in place.