I'm pretty sure I've read (though I could be wrong) that SpaceX is already profitable from contracts to launch commercial satellites, even without NASA's budget dollars.
That's wonderful - the more private contracts they win the better - and the brighter all private space initiatives will hopefully be. Unfortunately, accepting several million dollars from the US government leaves SpaceX (and other Musk ventures) vulnerable to government meddling. When the government starts to meddle in your business, they are the ones that decide where to stop. You cede control of your company's destiny often when you accept the first cheque.
