As others point out, they've been funded by the US taxpayer, mostly via Nasa and a bit by the DoD, almost entirely (before this announcement it was about 80% US taxpayer, not sure what that would be now, but more) so far. There are not many other places you can go if you want to get that kind of money.
Maybe they should release an app that puts some filters on your photographs.
No one's ruled out the idea that they may be the exception to the rule. Nevertheless we can't name any other contractor that has done what you say they are doing, for very long without sliding into rent-seeking.
Maybe they should release an app that puts some filters on your photographs.