The US Government had a monopoly on space. Now, it doesn’t.
We should not pay extra for this. Let private companies do so.
Extra? You totally misunderstand the role of Gov here - it is for them to pioneer the tech so that ‘companies’, as you put it, can take over. Barring that, the Chinese, Russians, Indians, and Europeans will usurp the high ground while some are busy pinching pennies. And the US will fall to 3rd of 4th level in the world. Once that happens there is no coming back. That was also Obama’s plan which is what DJT wants to overturn, but without conservative support, its Obama all the way to the bottom.