Days after the Ministry of Defense’s political leadership resigned, Sir Richie Knighton, Britain’s professional commander, said that without additional funding the UK would have to ‘curtail’ both military training and frontline operational activity.
The Royal Air Force Air Marshal, who has served as Chief of the Defense Staff since September 2025, told the House of Lords International Relations and Defense Committee on 16 June 2026 that the UK “must reduce our activities, training and operational activities if the level of resource funding available to us is not increased”.
“If you look back at the position 20 years ago, the ratio of resource expenditure to capital expenditure was about 80/20. Today it is about 60/40 – 60% activity and resources and 40% capital. Current projections show that by 2030 it will be 50/50.”
Rich Knighton, CDS, @JohnHealey_MP resigned, freely told a House of Commons committee that the DIP agreement does not provide sufficient RDEL budget (Daily Operating Costs) for defence, necessitating cuts to operations and training.
If this continues, I will resign… pic.twitter.com/PJpbHeoHQ4
— Navy Lookout (@NavyLookout) June 16, 2026
Here, Knighton points to the Ministry of Defense (MoD) Resource Expenditure Limit (RDEL) budget, which covers the day-to-day costs of running the military. The increase in the Department of Defense budget for capital expenditures, including the development and procurement of new equipment, was much greater than the increase in the RDEL budget.
This discrepancy stems in part from several major and costly procurement programs currently underway: the Dreadnought-class ballistic missile submarines, the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) sixth-generation fighter, the Type 26 frigates, and the troubled Ajax armored vehicle program, among others. These expensive programs required large injections of funds from the Department of Defense’s non-RDEL budget.
Why is the RDEL budget important to UK defence?
The UK Ministry of Defense operates on two main funding streams: Resource DEL (RDEL) for day-to-day operating expenses such as personnel salaries, training, equipment support, operations and maintenance, and Capital DEL (CDEL) for new funds… https://t.co/KOHoH9khlp
— Scotty (@scottyeders) June 17, 2026
But at the same time, the cost of RDEL itself is increasing significantly. At the same time that fuel costs are soaring, the Department of Defense is being challenged to expand its organization more broadly than at any time since the Cold War. The return to Europe and the North Atlantic after Afghanistan has been marred by ongoing unrest in the Middle East, which has necessitated the deployment of additional British troops to protect national interests and support regional partners.
minister resigns
The inevitable backdrop to Knighton’s comments is that the Ministry of Defense itself has undergone sudden and unplanned change with John Healey stepping down as Secretary of Defense. Healey has held this role since the current government took office in 2024, and has had a shadow role in the opposition role since April 2020.
Joining Healey was Al Carns, now the former Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces, who previously served in the Royal Marines until he was elected to Parliament in 2024, achieving the rank of colonel. Although not officially confirmed, it is an open secret in British politics that Carnes served as a senior officer in the elite Special Boat Service (SBS) and has seen action in every major conflict involving Britain over the past 25 years.
Healey’s bombshell resignation took aim at the heart of the government, accusing the government and prime minister he loyally defended of “failure to commit the resources needed to defend the country at a time of increasing threats”. Insiders said his resignation came as a shock to the entire cabinet and worsened Keir Starmer’s position amid the still-threatening threat of a public leadership challenge.
One of his main criticisms concerns the yet-to-be-announced Defense Investment Plan (DIP) promised following last year’s Strategic Defense Review. Key procurement decisions were delayed until the DIP was completed, placing enormous strain on companies waiting to award important defense contracts. In one notable example, Aeralis, a company that had hoped to produce British modular jet trainers, collapsed into administration.
Carns added fuel to the fire by claiming that, despite being defense secretary, he was not included in DIP discussions until two weeks before he resigned. He later labeled it “not fit for purpose”.
“It was not included in the defense investment plan from the beginning. I only read about it two weeks ago.”
Al Carns shared an incident that “ruffled (his) feathers” enough to cause him to resign as military chief, and expressed hope that if a leadership contest were to arise, “someone would… pic.twitter.com/0gQDNYKpfO
— Times Radio (@TimesRadio) June 13, 2026
speaking guardianCarns denounced excessive waste and bureaucracy within the ministry. “It’s unbelievable. You turn over a stone and you get another shock. How was that allowed? Turning over another stone now just adds a layer of bureaucracy that costs more than the product itself that we get. It’s hard to put into words the level of inefficiency in the system that we’re left with and that we’re trying to untangle. But in reality, it’s exceptionally difficult.”
The new Secretary of Defense is Dan Jarvis, who served as Secretary of State for Security in the Home Office. Like Carns, Jarvis is a decorated military veteran. He served in the British Army and was promoted to major before being discharged in 2011, 14 years later.
Jarvis served as a staff officer to General Mike Jackson in Kosovo when Jackson refused orders from Supreme Allied Commander in Europe (SACEUR) General Wesley Clark (U.S. Army) to continue plans to seize Pristina International Airport, which was then under Russian military control. Best-selling singer James Blunt also attended the event and served as a captain under Jackson.
EXC: Dan Jarvis faces having to make “very significant cuts” within the Pentagon if he can’t get more money.
– Options discussed last week included reducing investment in drones and artificial intelligence, shortening reserve days and shortening training.
– Includes £13.5 billion offer…— Larisa Brown (@larisamlbrown) June 16, 2026
Caught between a rock and a hard place, the new secretary is said to be reassessing the DIP, which has now reportedly been delayed until (at least) July. The losses of Healey and Carns are thought to have potentially swayed opinion within the cabinet to support increased spending, meaning Jarvis may have a smoother path. Fears of losing another defense secretary if faced with similar snags will force the hand of Starmer and the Treasury, led by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
