Full story
Lincoln at sea, dispute erupts
The USS Abraham Lincoln, a San Diego-based nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, has been deployed for more than 250 days and is now set to be replaced by the USS George Washington as lawmakers press for answers about conditions aboard the ship during the war with Iran.
“Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said Thursday that reports of dire conditions aboard USS Abraham Lincoln, from rotten meat to a lack of milk for cereal, are “completely misrepresented.””
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told Newsmax that reports of dire conditions aboard the Lincoln, including “rotten meat” and “a lack of milk for cereal,” were “completely misrepresented.”
Democrats, including Sen. Richard Blumenthal, said the Lincoln has gone more than 200 days without a port call and warned that “There have been widespread reports of shortages of basic supplies” and other habitability and well-being problems.
ABC News reported that a U.S. official confirmed a sailor went overboard in early August from the Lincoln and was quickly recovered, with the incident under investigation.
Blumenthal demands answers
Blumenthal’s letter to Hegseth and acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao demanded information about the extended deployment and raised a broader question of whether the Navy can sustain the “operational tempo” while preserving service members’ well-being.
In response to the criticism, Hegseth pushed back on reports of a sailor going overboard and accounts of sailors struggling through an unusually long deployment, saying the situation was “completely misrepresented.”
ABC News also reported that a Navy official told the network that the Lincoln has not seen an uptick in mental health issues and has “not identified an increase in reported suicidal ideation or suicide attempts aboard the ship.”
CNN reported that three U.S. officials said a sailor went overboard earlier this month off the Lincoln, and CNN quoted one official describing the incident as a mental health episode after the sailor was rescued within an hour and medically evaluated.
George Washington rotation ahead
As the Pentagon faces pressure over the Lincoln’s habitability and quality-of-life concerns, the USS George Washington is headed toward the Middle East to replace the long-deployed carrier, according to multiple reports.
““highly contested environment where traditional supply hubs in the Middle East were disrupted by combat actions.””
NBC 7 San Diego reported that the Lincoln originally deployed Nov. 21 from San Diego and arrived in the region in January ahead of the launch of the Iran war on Feb. 28, while the Navy said the conflict created a “highly contested environment” that disrupted traditional supply hubs.
The Navy said it prioritized “first food, then hygiene items, then mail,” and NBC 7 San Diego reported that the Navy assured sailors aboard the ship now have access to clean water and “healthy meal options.”
Stars and Stripes reported that the USS George Washington will be sent to the Arabian Sea to replace the Lincoln, and it noted that the office of the Chief of Naval Operations said it could not discuss plans for either carrier because of operational security concerns.
