The UK government is preparing to cut subsidies for heat pumps to help finance increased defence spending, according to sources who spoke to the Guardian. Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh has been tasked with finding more than £2bn in savings from her budget to support defence investment under a plan developed by the previous government. Some of those £2bn in cuts are expected to come from the boiler upgrade scheme, which currently helps fund heat pump installations for households. The move signals a shift in spending priorities as ministers weigh climate transition goals against military spending demands. Heat pumps represent a key part of the UK's strategy to reduce carbon emissions from heating, which accounts for roughly half of the country's carbon footprint. Cutting subsidies could slow adoption rates and make the technology less affordable for householders considering switching from gas boilers. The Guardian reported this development as an exclusive based on unnamed sources within government.