USS Abraham Lincoln Deployment Stretches Into Ninth Month as USS George Washington Heads to Replace It

USS Lincoln sailors attempt to jump overboard amid record deployment WASHINGTON (TNND) — The The USS Abraham Lincoln is expected to be relieved by another aircraft carrier as its deployment stretches into a ninth month amid mounting concerns about sailors’ well-being and conditions aboard the ship. The USS George Washington carrier strike group is heading toward the Middle East to replace the Lincoln, according to reports Thursday. The George Washington recently left Vietnam and has traveled through the Strait of Malacca toward the Indian Ocean. Officials said the carrier rotation had been planned before recent reports about conditions aboard the Lincoln. The Lincoln left San Diego on Nov. 21, 2025, initially deploying to the Pacific before being redirected to the Middle East ahead of the Feb. 28 U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran. The carrier has now been deployed for more than 250 days and spent more than 200 consecutive days without a port call. Military families have reported multiple incidents involving sailors attempting or preparing to go overboard. In one account, Annabelle Loma said her husband attempted to jump from the carrier and was subsequently placed on medical hold. In another reported incident, a sailor on watch encountered a shipmate preparing to go overboard and physically pulled the sailor back onto the deck, with three additional sailors arriving to assist. Stars and Stripes separately reported an incident in which watchstanders prevented a crew member from jumping overboard and said the crew was subsequently informed through a shipwide announcement. The Navy has not disclosed a precise number of Lincoln sailors who have attempted to go overboard or engaged in self-harm during the deployment. After the reports, a Navy official said the command had “not identified an increase in reported suicidal ideation or suicide attempts” aboard the Lincoln and said counselors, chaplains and medical and mental-health personnel are available. Families have also reported moldy showers, broken toilets and laundry equipment, intermittent hot water, shortages of food and hygiene supplies and 12- to 16-hour work shifts. The Navy has disputed parts of those accounts while acknowledging the conflict has disrupted traditional supply hubs. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed back Thursday on reports about conditions aboard the Lincoln, saying they had been “completely misrepresented,” while acknowledging sailors can face austere conditions during lengthy deployments. More than 200 family members attended a San Diego meeting with acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao last week. Families also raised concerns about mental health, exhaustion and safety during a subsequent virtual meeting with Navy leadership. A 2025 study of deployed Navy personnel identified lack of rest, loud noise and inadequate access to mental and physical healthcare among common deployment stressors; nearly half of surveyed sailors reported inadequate help coping with stress at sea. On Capitol Hill, Sen. Richard Blumenthal asked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for an accounting of conditions aboard the carrier, citing reports of supply shortages, water contamination, plumbing problems, deteriorating mental health and deck-safety concerns. Sen. Ruben Gallego called for an official bipartisan Senate oversight visit to the Lincoln, while Sen. Mark Kelly publicly described reports of multiple sailors attempting to jump into the sea as “disturbing.” Navy Vice Adm. Joseph Cahill acknowledged the strain the deployment is placing on sailors and their families and pointed to deployment-resilience counselors, chaplains and Human Factors Councils as mechanisms for identifying risks to crew well-being. The movement of the George Washington now provides the clearest indication that relief for the Lincoln is approaching, though officials have not announced when the Lincoln will leave the Middle East or return to San Diego.

Trump says record USS Lincoln deployment 'not nearly long enough' Trump said USS Lincoln family members are not concerned about conditions. President Donald Trump reacted to reports of poor conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln on Friday, claiming that families of service members are "not" concerned and saying that the vessel hasn't been deployed for "nearly long enough." The president also confirmed that a new aircraft carrier is headed to the Middle East to replace it during a very brief gaggle with reporters on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews Friday afternoon. "That ship is moving," Trump said when a reporter brought up the USS Lincoln. A U.S. official told ABC News on Thursday that the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, which is homeported in Japan, will replace the Lincoln as part of a long-planned rotation of ships and has begun heading toward the Middle East. The aircraft carrier's movements come amid reports of mental health and supply issues aboard the USS Lincoln, whose long deployment to the Middle East in support of the Iran war includes a record-setting time at sea of more than 200 days. Navy leaders, including the Navy's acting Secretary Hung Cao, last week held a heated town hall for families of the USS Lincoln who had raised concerns about the conditions on the ship. When a reporter on Friday said that family members of people aboard that ship are concerned about the conditions, Trump interjected to suggest that they are "not" actually worried. "No, they're not. That ship is moving right now, or very shortly, and it's being replaced with another very similar ship," Trump said. When pressed by a reporter about whether the deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln has gone on for too long, Trump said not that it hasn't gone on "nearly long enough." "No, no, not nearly long enough," Trump said.

The United States is preparing to send the aircraft carrier USS George Washington to the Middle East region as part of a pre-planned military rotation, according to media reports citing American officials on Thursday, August 13, 2026. This move comes to replace the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which spent more than 250 days at sea on a mission, including about 200 consecutive days without docking at any port, the longest continuous deployment of a U.S. aircraft carrier at sea. The long deployment of the Abraham Lincoln has raised widespread concerns in the U.S. Congress, where lawmakers have asked for clarifications about sailors’ living conditions after reports of shortages in basic supplies, problems with water and plumbing systems, and declines in crew mental health due to fatigue and high operational tempo. The Abraham Lincoln has played a pivotal role in U.S. military operations in the region since January, including participation in Operation Epic Fury and enforcing the blockade on Iranian ports. Officials clarified that sending George Washington aims to ensure the continuation of American strategic presence in the region, maintain deterrence, and prevent any security gap during the replacement of naval units.

If you encounter trouble watching the video, click the source link to watch on the official site. On Wednesday, members of the Democratic Party in the U.S. Congress called for clarifications about conditions aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, following reports of food shortages, plumbing system outages, and mental health crises among its crew during the longest deployment in its history, while the Wall Street Journal quoted American officials as saying the United States is preparing to send the USS George Washington to the Middle East to replace the Lincoln. The paper added that plans had been made to substitute the George Washington with the Lincoln before concerns about living conditions were raised. In a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Wednesday, Senator Richard Blumenthal urged the Navy to clarify the conditions aboard the carrier that has ‘spent more than 250 days on deployment’ and has not docked on land for more than 200 days, setting a record for consecutive days at sea. Blumenthal expressed concern about such long missions, noting reports of shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, plumbing problems, declining mental health, and surface-sail safety concerns among others on the carrier. Senator Ben Cardin, for his part, called for an official oversight visit from a bipartisan Senate delegation to the Lincoln to investigate the troubling conditions reported on board. The USS Abraham Lincoln left San Diego, California, on November 21, 2025, for a mission in the South China Sea, before being redirected to the Middle East ahead of the American-Israeli strikes on Iran that began on February 28. The MSNBC network reported that family members of service members aboard the carrier clashed verbally during two recent meetings with the U.S. Navy leadership over the difficult conditions faced by about 5,000 sailors and Marines on the Lincoln, including food shortages. While some reported acute mental health issues and suicide attempts aboard the carrier, they sought to know when their loved ones would return home. NBC also quoted an American official as saying the acting Secretary of the Navy faced sharp criticism from the families of deployed troops, and that U.S. military leaders in closed-door discussions at the Pentagon and the White House expressed concern about declining morale and widespread fatigue among forces deployed to support efforts against Iran. It was added that in recent weeks there have been several accidents of crew members falling overboard from the Lincoln, which has raised concerns inside the Navy. Galligo wrote in his post: ‘Stories of crew members threatening to jump from the ship are a chilling warning about how bad the situation is; mold-covered bathrooms, a lack of hot water, rationed meals and soap, malfunctioning toilets, and 12-to-16-hour shifts with no days off.’ He added, ‘The way President Donald Trump treats our service members while waging this illegal war is not only disgusting but also dangerous.’ In response to these reports, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Thursday that the reports about poor conditions aboard the Lincoln in the Middle East were ‘an utterly distorted picture.’ He told reporters during a visit to Panama that the department strives to ensure every ship, every crew, and every captain receives everything we can provide them at all times. He added, ‘Some deployments are longer than others, and I have respect and gratitude for these sailors more than anyone. What they do on the high seas, under those harsh conditions with limited port calls, is nothing short of remarkable.’

United States President Donald Trump has dismissed concerns about conditions on board the USS Abraham Lincoln during its lengthy deployment as part of the US-Israel war with Iran. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Trump rejected the assertion that the families of those on board the aircraft carrier are worried about their loved ones. “No, they’re not,” Trump said. Recommended Stories list of 3 items- list 1 of 3US-Iran talks in deadlock – what’s the latest? - list 2 of 3Will all-out war in Yemen reignite as the Houthis escalate attacks? - list 3 of 3Norway’s FM tells Al Jazeera the US war on Iran was not ‘smart’ When asked if the aircraft carrier had been deployed too long, Trump replied: “No, no, no, not nearly enough.” His remarks follow a series of reports this week, documenting supply shortages and mental health strain on the USS Abraham Lincoln. That includes accounts of individuals attempting to jump from the ship. The aircraft carrier left in November from a base in San Diego, California, and it has since been involved in January’s military operation against Venezuela and, more recently, the war against Iran. Its deployment was expected to end in May, but that timeframe has been extended. It has spent more than 250 days at sea without a port stop, setting a record for the US Navy. More than 5,000 sailors and Marines are housed on board. Several US lawmakers have since called for an inquiry into conditions on board the ship. One Democratic senator, Ruben Gallego, has also called on the Navy to allow a bipartisan delegation to visit the ship to assess the state of affairs. Still, the Trump administration has repeatedly denied worsening conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln. On Friday, a US official told Al Jazeera the Navy had “not observed an increase in suicidal ideations or attempts aboard the ship”. The official added that there were five chaplains, one psychologist, one social worker, three “behavioral health technicians”, and one “embedded integrated prevention coordination (EIPC) counselor” on board the vessel. There is also an emotional support dog on board. ‘What military objective?’ While Trump downplayed the length of the deployment, he did confirm reports that the aircraft carrier will be swapped out in the near future. “That ship is moving right now or very shortly, and it’s being replaced with another very similar ship,” Trump said on Friday. In a letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth earlier this week, Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat, asked for information on conditions on the boat, including what metrics the Navy was using to measure the mental health of the crew. “What military objective is the continued deployment of the Lincoln intended to achieve in Iran, and how does the Department assess whether the carrier’s continued presence is necessary to accomplish that objective?” he asked. The focus on conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln come as diplomatic efforts to end the US-Israeli war in Iran show no signs of breakthrough. The war began with a US and Israel-led offensive on February 28. In June, the US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that called for an immediate pause to the fighting. But last month, the memorandum collapsed amid a dispute over the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for trade. The subsequent escalation saw the US re-impose its naval blockade on Iranian ports and Iran constrict traffic through the strait once more. Iran has since focused its diplomatic efforts on reaching an agreement with Oman over travel routes in the waterway, which is a key artery for oil, natural gas, fertiliser and other goods.

The nearly nine-month extended deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East has triggered a mental health crisis among the crew so intense that some sailors have tried to jump overboard, according to some US media reports. Family members of the exhausted military crew on board the flagship aircraft carrier, reportedly located in the Gulf region, say there are food shortages, while broken toilets and showers have contributed to unsanitary conditions and poor health. Recommended Stories list of 3 items- list 1 of 3Trump dismisses mental health concerns on USS Lincoln aircraft carrier - list 2 of 3US aircraft carrier expected to relieve USS Lincoln in Middle East - list 3 of 3US admiral praises USS Lincoln crew amid reported mental health concerns More than 5,000 staff members have been on board the vessel, which has been conducting maritime security and blockade operations at present around the Strait of Hormuz, for that time. It set sail on November 21, 2025 from its homeport of San Diego for an extended deployment to the Asia Pacific and the Middle East. Since then, the ship has made just one single-day port stop at Naval Base Guam from December 11-12. The lack of port stops is a major issue for a ship the size and complexity of the USS Abraham Lincoln, experts say. As US President Donald Trump and his defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, declare the United States is ready to continue an “indefinite” blockade on Iranian ports in the Gulf, we look at how this compares with other lengthy aircraft carrier deployments. What is happening on board the USS Abraham Lincoln? Reports by two US publications that cover military affairs, the Navy Times and Stars and Stripes, last week quoted family members of military personnel on board the vessel who said they were suffering from declining mental health and morale, and cases of suicidal ideation. The Navy Times spoke on record with one sailor’s wife, identified as Annabelle Loma, who said he had attempted to jump overboard amid what she described as “severe burnout”. The reports prompted urgent questions from US lawmakers. On Sunday, Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), reportedly visited the USS Lincoln. He praised the crew and stated on social media that “service at sea for long periods isn’t for everyone, while claiming the ship has the lowest number of mental health-related cases of the navy’s 11 active aircraft carriers. “It is uniquely challenging and tough, and every single one of us, including me, reacts to stressors in different ways,” he said. But there is growing concern among Republican and Democratic lawmakers over what they see as a lack of accountability after Hegseth dismissed mental health reports last week as “completely misrepresented”. When Trump was asked last week whether the USS Lincoln had been at sea for too long, he told reporters: “No, not nearly long enough.” The USS Lincoln mission was supposed to end in May but has been extended repeatedly since then. Last week, it emerged that another ship, the USS George Washington, has been rerouted from its position in the Pacific and will arrive in the Gulf within a week to take over duties from the Lincoln. How long can US aircraft carrier deployments be? The longest aircraft carrier deployment since the Vietnam War was the USS Gerald R Ford’s 326-day mission, which began in June 2025, under Trump’s second term in the White House. That mission included NATO exercises in the Mediterranean, support for the US military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, and operations in the Red Sea during the US-Israel war on Iran. After beginning its mission as a routine deployment to the Asia Pacific region, the Ford then moved into the South China Sea for security operations, before being deployed to the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman to help the US enforce its naval blockade of the Iranian ports. During this time, the USS Ford met several technical problems, including an onboard fire, which also triggered congressional scrutiny back home. Lengthy deployments during the Vietnam War Some of the longest aircraft carrier deployments in US history took place in and around the Gulf of Tonkin during the Vietnam War, with the USS Midway operating for 332 days, the USS Coral Sea operating for 329 days and the USS Saratoga operating for 308 days. Similar to the USS Lincoln, they faced issues as well. Reports said the intense flight schedule of the active air combat during the Vietnam War pushed crew and operations to their limits. While there are a number of lengthy aircraft carrier deployments from other countries, they pale in comparison to the US Navy’s record. Russia’s Admiral Kuznetsov conducted a five-month mission to the Syrian coast which began in October 2016, but suffered several technical breakdowns, including aircraft losses. The United Kingdom’s HMS Queen Elizabeth completed a seven-month deployment in 2021, which included combat strikes on targets in Iraq and Syria, despite significant breakdowns due to engineering issues. Why is this issue so critical? Many lawmakers have raised questions over whether the US can maintain an “indefinite” blockade in the Gulf if conditions on board a flagship aircraft carrier are so dire. In a letter to Hegseth last week, Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal raised the alarm over reports of deteriorating mental health on board, as well as shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, an increase in safety incidents and even disruptions to mail services, through which those on board receive care packages. “These reports warrant immediate attention, but they also raise a broader question: whether the Navy can sustain the operational tempo now being demanded of its carrier force, particularly as this administration repeatedly commits US forces to conflicts of its own choosing and increasingly relies on aircraft carriers to sustain those operations,” Blumenthal wrote. Experts say the lack of port stops is a major issue for the USS Abraham Lincoln. Harlan Ullman, a retired senior naval officer and chairman of the strategic advisory firm Killowen Group, told Al Jazeera that ships require onshore care to keep advanced technology operational over long periods. “Ships need maintenance, particularly ships that are extremely complicated with very advanced weapon systems such as nuclear-powered carriers with very advanced systems, and there are things that you cannot do in terms of maintenance under way,” Ullman said. “There are lots of things that you can do at sea, but there are far more things that can only be done in port,” he pointed out. Ullman noted that extended deployments “erode the readiness and capability of that ship the longer it’s at sea, and it lacks the ability to repair and extend maintenance”. He added that the Trump administration must prioritise naval readiness over politics, saying “this is a national issue, not a local one; and the administration should not be so defensive. It should say, ‘OK, we’ll see what’s going on, and then if there are some issues, we’ll take care of them.’” What are the drawbacks of deploying aircraft carriers? Aircraft carriers are built to be on deployment for many months at a time. However, that comes with a high cost, as extended cruises increase the risk of technical breakdowns and can also lead to reduced staff morale and mental health concerns. Large aircraft carriers are expensive. The USS Abraham Lincoln cost $2.2bn to build in 1989, and it costs tens of millions of dollars to operate on a daily basis. Recent conflicts in the Red Sea have also underscored the vulnerability of large aircraft carriers. Houthi rebels, who do not possess a formal navy, have nevertheless managed to put significant pressure on large US Navy aircraft carriers operating near the limits of their missile range. At one point during the US-Israel war on Iran, the USS Gerald Ford was forced to sail hundreds of miles away from the Iranian coast to reduce the risk of being hit by missiles, limiting its effectiveness.

Suicides and shortages of food and water... What is happening aboard the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln? Democratic members of the U.S. Congress have called for clarifications about conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, following reports of food shortages, plumbing system failures, and mental health crises among the crew during its longest-ever deployment. In a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Wednesday, Senator Richard Blumenthal urged the Navy to clarify conditions aboard the aircraft carrier that has “spent more than 250 days on deployment” and has not docked ashore for “more than 200 days, setting a record for consecutive days at sea.” Blumenthal expressed concern about such long missions, noting reports of shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, plumbing problems, deteriorating mental health, and surface-safety concerns on the carrier, among other issues. Separately, Senator Ben Ray Luján? (Note: The original text mentions Senator Rubio? The user’s Arabic text says Senator Roben Galligo — likely Robin Gallego, i.e., Senator Raphael Warnock? The Arabic name is روبن غاليغو which corresponds to Senator Ruben Gallego) urged, in a post on X, for an “official inspection visit by a bipartisan Senate delegation to the Lincoln to investigate the troubling conditions reported.” The USS Abraham Lincoln departed San Diego, California on November 21, 2025, on a mission to the South China Sea, before being redirected to the Middle East ahead of the American-Israeli attacks on Iran that began on February 28. MS News Network reported that family members of service members aboard the carrier clashed during two recent meetings with U.S. Navy leadership due to the difficult conditions faced by about 5,000 sailors and Marines on the Lincoln, including food shortages. They sought to know when their loved ones would return home. Some also reported acute mental health issues and suicide attempts aboard the carrier. Gallego wrote in his post on Wednesday: “The accounts of crew members threatening to jump from the ship are a sobering alarm about how bad the situation is: bathrooms infested with mold, a lack of hot water, rationing of meals and soap, malfunctioning toilets, and 12-to-16-hour shifts with no days off.” He added: “The way (President Donald Trump) is treating our service members during this illegal war is not only unacceptable but dangerous.”

Trump says USS Lincoln’s record time at sea during Iran operations ‘not nearly long enough’ Trump says USS Lincoln’s record time at sea during Iran operations ‘not nearly long enough’ WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Friday downplayed the toll on American sailors enduring nearly nine months at sea on the USS Abraham Lincoln as concerns escalated about mental health and supply issues aboard the aircraft carrier supporting U.S. operations against Iran. In a brief exchange with reporters before flying to New York for an event to highlight falling violent crime rates across the U.S., Trump refuted that family members have raised concerns about the deployment’s length and even said that the deployment — which includes a record-setting uninterrupted time at sea of more than 240 days — is “not nearly long enough.” “That ship is moving right now, or very shortly, and it’s being replaced with another very similar ship,” Trump said when asked about the lengthy deployment. The acting navy secretary, Hung Cao, said the Lincoln “will return home soon” in a social media post on Friday. Trump strode into office for a second term vowing to avoid lengthy and expensive military entanglements. And after launching the Iran war, alongside Israel, Trump and his advisers said the conflict would last a matter of weeks. The war is now more than five months old. But on Friday, during his crime address in Garden City, New York, he acknowledged that he’s used the U.S. military “a little bit more than I wanted to,” while asserting anew that the U.S. operation against Iran is going well. He even said, seemingly in jest, that “pretty soon I’ll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States.” “I’ll never apologize,” Trump added about the war and its impact on oil prices. “I did the right thing.” Democrats demand Pentagon briefing on USS Lincoln Extended deployments of carriers during the Iran conflict have raised concerns about the impact on service members who are away from home for long periods as well as the increasing strain on the ships and their equipment. Several Democratic lawmakers, including Sens. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Ruben Gallego of Arizona, are pressing for accountability from the Pentagon over conditions aboard the Lincoln, which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday said were “completely misrepresented.” Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., who served three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne Division and 75th Ranger Regiment before being elected, took to social media to criticize Trump’s comments, saying on X that “President Trump does not care about our servicemembers or their families.” Top Democrats on the House Oversight Committee have requested a classified briefing on the ship’s food inventory, sanitation issues and healthcare availability, as well as an assessment of how much longer it would be deployed before relief arrives. Republicans have been less outspoken about the situation on the Lincoln. The GOP chairmen of the House and Senate armed services committees did not immediately respond to a request for comment. While hostilities between the U.S. and Iran have calmed in recent weeks, the Navy has reimposed a blockade on Iranian ports in the crucial Strait of Hormuz, and the Trump administration has offered no clarity on how it intends to wind down the war. Hegseth said the U.S. military can maintain the blockage of Iranian ports “indefinitely.” Another aircraft carrier, the USS George Washington, left port in Da Nang, Vietnam, last week, and is expected to replace the USS Lincoln, one of two aircraft carriers currently deployed in the Middle East. After reports emerged that sailors on the Lincoln are struggling with mental health concerns, the Navy said it has “not observed an increase in suicidal ideations or attempts aboard the ship,” though officials have declined to provide data, citing operational security and patient privacy concerns. A Navy official said a sailor aboard the Lincoln went overboard in early August but the person was quickly recovered, treated by the ship’s medical department and transferred off ship for follow-on care. The official would not say whether it was being considered a suicide attempt. U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, has also pushed back on reports about poor conditions. ___ AP writers Collin Binkley in Garden City, New York, and Michelle L. Price and Lisa Mascaro in Washington contributed to this report. —— This story has been corrected to show that the USS Abraham Lincoln has spent more than 240 days of uninterrupted time at sea and its overall deployment has exceeded 260 days.

Conditions on US aircraft carrier at sea for more than 250 days raise alarms Thousands of US military members who have lived aboard an aircraft carrier for more than 250 days are reportedly contending with food shortages, broken plumbing and exhaustion, leading lawmakers to demand answers from the Pentagon and pressure the Trump administration over the Iran war. Military news outlets reported that some USS Abraham Lincoln sailors had attempted to jump overboard, while families have raised concerns about mental health aboard the ship. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth called reports of conditions "completely misrepresented" on Thursday. The carrier left California in November for the South China Sea and was sent to the Middle East ahead of attacks on Iran in February. The deployment, which was originally set to end in May, has been repeatedly extended. No return date has been announced, but on Thursday multiple outlets reported the US was preparing to replace the carrier with the USS George Washington as part of a previously scheduled rotation plan. Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal listed the reported hardships on the carrier, where about 5,000 people currently live, in a letter to Hegseth. "Shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, plumbing issues, deteriorating mental health, deck safety concerns and disruptions in the mail system, which have caused many care packages in route to the ship to be lost in transit for months," the Democrat, who serves on the Armed Services Committee, wrote. "These reports warrant immediate attention, but they also raise a broader question: whether the Navy can sustain the operational tempo now being demanded of its carrier force." Fellow Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego called for the military to allow a congressional delegation to visit the ship and "conduct oversight investigation into this horrible situation", he wrote on X, adding: "There is no reason to be denied access." Citing two unnamed officials, CBS News, the BBC's US partner, reported that earlier this month a sailor went overboard and was recovered by a helicopter, treated by the medical department and transferred off the ship for further care. The circumstances of the incident are under investigation. The Military Times and Stars & Stripes reported earlier this week that multiple service members had considered jumping overboard, according to their families. They said that being at sea for an extended period of time and the conditions aboard were hurting some members' mental health. Those conditions also reportedly included not being able to clean laundry for more than a week and not eating fresh food due to infrequent visits to ports, when troops are not always allowed to leave the ship. The relative of one sailor aboard the ship told BBC News that their family member has lost 65lbs (29kg) since beginning their deployment. The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to concerns about retaliation, said that their relative confirmed sailors had attempted to jump from the ship. In recent WhatsApp conversations, "He said, 'I'm dead tired. Dead.'" The sailor described constant noise and vibration, from the ship's engine and planes taking off and landing. "He knows the mission, and he knows that this is not gonna be ideal situation," the relative said. "It's not a vacation. And he knows what he has to do. But it's just without a port, without stepping foot on lands, without any kind of decompression. It's a constant vibration. Morning, noon, and night when you sleep, when you eat, when you shower. There's never a moment of peace in your mind." California Congressman Mike Levin, a Democrat, said the USS Abraham Lincoln had "moldy showers, broken toilets, laundry down for weeks, long stretches with no hot water, a meal that came down to half a cup of rice and two tortillas. No soap, deodorant, or toothpaste." Following those reports, a US Navy official told the BBC they had not identified an increase in reported suicidal ideation or suicide attempts aboard the ship and that "traditional supply hubs" had been "disrupted by combat actions". It was currently putting a priority on delivering "mission-critical supplies" to the ship. "First food, then hygiene items, then mail," the official said on Wednesday. "Current reports from the ship confirm continuous access to clean water, functional AC [air conditioning] and healthy meal options." Hegseth, while speaking to reporters in Panama on Thursday, said the government was making sure "every ship, every crew, every captain has everything we can provide them at every single moment". "Some deployments are longer than others, and I have more respect and gratitude for those sailors than anybody," he said. "What they do in those high seas in those austere conditions with less port calls - it's incredible." Asked about the conditions aboard, Olivia Wales, a spokeswoman for Trump, told reporters that both Hegseth and Trump were committed to ensuring the US military was "equipped with the resources necessary to counter any threat to the United States". The study cited "unique stressors, such as poor habitability, noise and demanding schedules that leave inadequate time for sleep and rest". Meanwhile, suicide remains a leading cause of death in the US Navy and Marines, according to an analysis of military data by USNI News, while veterans have higher rates of suicide than Americans who have not served in the military, according to the Veterans Administration. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story you can visit BBC Action Line. Help and support outside the UK can be found at Befrienders Worldwide or you can call the US Suicide and Crisis Lifeline on 988. Additional reporting by Cai Pigliucci

US commander says mental health a 'priority' on USS Lincoln The top US military commander in the Middle East has said mental health is a "priority" on the warship USS Lincoln, following reports of difficult conditions on board the long-deployed ship. After visiting the vessel on Saturday, Adm Brad Cooper said it had "among the lowest number of cases related to mental health" out of 11 active US aircraft carriers. But he acknowledged that Navy service at sea for long periods was "uniquely challenging and tough". The ship arrived in the Middle East in January and has been supporting the US war against Iran, including the blockade on Iranian ports. It has spent a record-setting uninterrupted time at sea of more than 240 days. Family members of sailors aboard the Lincoln have expressed concern about their mental health deteriorating due to the conditions, with some sailors having reportedly attempted to jump overboard. Adm Cooper said in a statement on Sunday: "I've long believed that mental health is another aspect of individual health and requires our attention just like physical health and spiritual health. "I applaud Lincoln's leadership for... stepping up and making mental health and crew resilience a leadership priority." While the US Navy last week acknowledged supply challenges, it had denied a mental health crisis on the Lincoln, which has 5,000 people aboard. Conditions aboard the ship have included poor sanitation, infrequent ports-of-call, broken plumbing and shortages of fresh food, according to reports last week in the Military Times and Stars & Stripes. Thirteen Democrats on the Senate Armed Services Committee sent a letter on Saturday to Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, criticising the lengthy deployment and demanding answers. Last week, Hegseth called reports of conditions "completely misrepresented", while President Donald Trump dismissed suggestions the sailors had been at sea too long, telling reporters on Friday: "Not nearly long enough." The USS Lincoln deployment, which was originally set to end in May, has been repeatedly extended. The personnel have reportedly been at sea without a port call for over 200 consecutive days. Maryland's Democratic Governor Wes Moore, a US Army veteran, told CNN on Sunday that the reported conditions were "heartbreaking" and the Republican president should have "more compassion". If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story you can visit BBC Action Line. Help and support outside the UK can be found at Befrienders Worldwide or you can call the US Suicide and Crisis Lifeline on 988.

As the war with Iran passes the half-year mark, even the U.S. Navy, once confident of being the world's strongest, is faltering. On the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, which has been stuck in the Middle East for more than 250 days, the laundry facilities have stopped, and there is testimony that a crew member attempted to jump overboard under stress. AP said on the 13th (local time) that the Lincoln has stayed at sea near the Gulf of Oman for more than 240 days since the war began without pulling into port. It is the record for continuous time at sea among modern U.S. Navy carriers. The Lincoln left San Diego on Nov. 21 last year and arrived in the North Arabian Sea in Jan. this year. Since the war with Iran began on Feb. 28, it has taken on the critical tasks of core bombing operations and a blockade of Iranian ports. The Lincoln was initially set to finish its deployment in May, but as the war dragged on, the operation deadline was repeatedly extended. Sen. Richard Blumenthal of the Armed Services Committee said, "There has been no formal port call for more than 200 days in which Lincoln crew members could get off the ship to rest." The U.S. Navy typically sets overseas carrier deployments at six to seven months and brings them into port in the middle to handle resupply, maintenance, and crew rest all at once. A port call is virtually the only time crew members can leave the ship. Even while maintaining operations for 11 months, the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford docked in Split, Croatia, in Mar., received maintenance for a set period, and gave the crew shore leave. Rep. Mike Levin of the Democratic Party compiled and released reports from Lincoln crew members about moldy onboard shower facilities, broken toilets, and laundry facilities that were down for weeks. Contrary to the reputation of being the world's strongest navy, hot water was long cut off inside the carrier, and supplies of soap, toothpaste, and deodorant ran out. Congress also said there were cases where a crew member's meal consisted of half a cup of rice and two tortillas. The U.S. Navy acknowledged that as the fight with Iran has dragged on, supply hubs in the Middle East are not functioning properly. It added that it would concentrate remaining transport capacity to improve the carrier environment in the order of food, hygiene products, and mail. Some have raised concerns about crew mental health as the longest time at sea in U.S. carrier history continues. The military outlet Navy Times interviewed crew members and families and reported that "there have been multiple attempts by crew members to jump overboard on the carrier." Annabel Loma, who spoke with Navy Times, said, "My husband, who attempted to jump, fears he will end his 13-year career with a dishonorable discharge." Stars and Stripes, the military's house organ, said that at a recent family forum in San Diego, a spouse tearfully appealed after receiving a message from a husband serving on the Lincoln that said, "I hope I don't wake up tomorrow." The U.S. Navy acknowledged that earlier this month a crew member fell overboard, was immediately rescued by helicopter, treated by onboard medical staff, and then transported off the ship. The military, however, did not classify the incident as a suicide attempt. It said the exact circumstances are "under investigation," and added, "We have not confirmed that suicidal ideation or suicide attempts have increased on the ship." According to a study of 956 people released in Jan. last year by researchers at the Naval Postgraduate School, Navy personnel serving on ships experience the most severe psychological distress among all U.S. service members. The researchers noted that they suffer from poor living conditions, chronic hull noise, and 24-hour duty schedules that make it difficult to secure sleep time. As the Lincoln crew issues surfaced, the U.S. military chose a swap plan to push another carrier into place earlier than scheduled. The carrier replacing the Lincoln is expected to be the George Washington, which has been based in Japan and operating in the South China Sea. Military officials said the George Washington recently stopped in Da Nang, Vietnam, and then transited west through the Strait of Malacca with a cruiser and destroyers. However, if the George Washington pulls out to fill the Lincoln's slot, the Pacific is expected to have a gap with no U.S. carrier for the time being. Brian Clark, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, told the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on the 13th that "the Iran war is pushing back carrier maintenance schedules" and estimated that "it could take three years for the U.S. Navy fleet to return to an ideal readiness posture." He added, "Under normal circumstances, the George Washington would conduct patrols and demonstrate to countries like the Philippines and Japan the United States' resolve to defend the Pacific and its clear support," and said, "With this decision, we have given up all strategic opportunities that would affect relations with neighboring countries."

The USS Abraham Lincoln is in the midst of a record-setting deployment, kept out of port for more than six months as the carrier’s crew faces morale and mental health concerns. The ship may break a record for the longest trip away from its home port for a US carrier since the Vietnam War. That record was set just months ago by the USS Gerald R. Ford after that ship completed a 326-day deployment that included operations against Iran and Venezuela. It’s part of a pattern, with the US Navy increasingly asking its aircraft carrier groups to exceed the service’s recommended deployment duration of seven months, according to a CNN analysis of deployment announcements and the USNI News fleet tracker. Experts and former officials have warned that the trend could place more stress on the ships and lead to burnout among sailors or even push some to leave the Navy altogether. A crew member serving on the Lincoln described morale on the ship as very low and said they had heard repeatedly about suicidal ideation by fellow crew members. And there were regular strains on essential amenities — toilets and water fountains around the ship frequently closed and hot water often unavailable, the crew member said. “Everyday we wake up and listen to our Captain speak, we are desperately hoping and anxious for updates on our return,” the crew member told CNN. Other sailors aboard the Lincoln who spoke with CNN described conditions unlike their prior deployments, largely due to the combat that has kept the carrier from making stops at friendly ports. Ships can take on new supplies and allow its sailors to rest and relax during those port calls. The ship has experienced intermittent food shortages, low supplies of hygiene items, and problems with the water system, sailors and family members told CNN. “You used to be able to go to the ship store and get as many items as you want, with every hygiene product consistently available,” one sailor, who requested anonymity due to fear of reprisal, told CNN. Now there are limits on purchases and “hardly any hygiene products (are) readily available.” Kate Kuzminski, a defense expert who oversees research at the Center for a New American Security think tank, said the Navy needs to realign its deployment model with reality to properly set expectations for sailors and their families. “What does it do to a family who’s newly assigned to the Ford?” asked Kuzminski, who argued that “it could drive people’s or families’ decisions to get out (of the Navy).” CNN previously reported that two sailors assigned to the Lincoln strike group have jumped overboard in recent months. Both were rescued alive, US officials said. Others were prevented from jumping, according to reports from the Navy Times and Stars and Stripes. The father of a sailor aboard the Lincoln who spoke to CNN on the condition of anonymity, said he understands sailors like his child join the Navy to do their jobs and doing them in combat is inherently hard – but he questions why relief hasn’t come sooner and whether some of the mental strain from the long deployment could have been prevented. The Navy said in a statement to CNN, “We have not observed an increase in suicidal ideations or attempts aboard the ship. We take every service member’s well-being seriously and have religious, medical and mental health professionals available to assess and address concerns as they arise.” A US official added that the Navy does not believe there is a correlation between deployment length and thoughts of self-harm and that man overboard incidents are not unique to this fleet. President Donald Trump on Friday appeared to address a question about the length of the Lincoln deployment, telling reporters that it had been “not nearly long enough.” The wife of one service member aboard the Lincoln who requested anonymity told CNN’s Jake Tapper on Friday that the president doesn’t think “before he talks,” and urged both he and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to have “some empathy.” “Take some accountability for what’s going on with your military, your ships, in your war. In your war. It’s infuriating,” she said. Increasing stress on the fleet The median length of US-based aircraft carrier deployments has steadily increased since 2020, according to the data reviewed by CNN. The Navy’s plan has aimed to provide predictable three-year cycles for sailors that include a seven-month/210-day deployment, according to Adm. Daryl Caudle. Between 2018 and 2022, most deployments remained under or within a few days of the target length. However, the sea service has routinely missed that mark since the October 2023 Hamas terror attacks against Israel sparked a spate of extended deployments. The USS Gerald R. Ford and the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower both saw deployments extended after the Israel-Hamas war began — the Ford returned home in January 2024 after 260 days away, and the Ike’s July 2024 homecoming came after 274 days. Three different carrier deployments that began in 2024 exceeded 250 days. The following year, 2025, saw the carrier force even more stretched, with two extended deployments passing 270 days, including the Ford’s post-Vietnam War record breaker 326-day trip, which began in June 2025. That deployment took the supercarrier from homeport in Norfolk, Virginia, first to Europe and next to the Caribbean, where its planes struck Venezuela during the raid that captured former strongman Nicolas Maduro, and then to the Middle East where it participated in Operation Epic Fury against Iran despite a major fire. Experts told CNN that on extended missions, like that undertaken by the Ford and the Lincoln, components wear out and repairs at sea serve as temporary band aids. Other minor issues also begin to compound: arresting cables that catch landing aircraft begin to fray, and saltwater seeps into shipboard systems, among others. Those issues can add up and increase the chances of mishaps, the sources said. Burnout for crew members and their families can also become a concern, experts and former officials told CNN. Retired Rear Adm. Bruce Gillingham, who previously served as the Navy Surgeon General during the Covid-19 pandemic, told CNN that one of the “critical factors” of extended deployments during the pandemic, which did not allow ships to make port calls, was “how resilient the sailors and Marines were.” “This is not unprecedented,” Gillingham said. “I mean, when you look at the history of the Navy, world events require that deployments be lengthened, and the sailors answer the call … The Navy plays the away game, that’s the nature of the business, and it’s very good at it. It doesn’t mean that it doesn’t put stress on the people and the ships.” Retention of naval aviators and maintenance personnel has been an area of significant concern this year, according to sources familiar with the Navy’s internal discussions. Earlier this year, Hegseth ordered a review of retention struggles for sailors assigned to Navy Strike Fighter Squadrons, according to a March memo from Hegseth obtained by CNN. To retain top talent, the Navy is also offering flight officers and naval aviators tens of thousands of dollars annually in bonuses. Meanwhile, a third 2025 deployment — that of the USS Abraham Lincoln — remains underway nearly nine months after the ship left San Diego on November 21. Most of its crew last touched land in Guam for a December 11 port call. Although a Japan-based carrier, the USS George Washington, is on its way to relieve the Lincoln from its blockade duties in the Persian Gulf, the Lincoln may break the Ford’s deployment length record on its way home to California. Struggles on the Lincoln The continued deployment of the Lincoln has placed strains on families, several relatives of those serving on the carrier told CNN. Care packages sent by sailors’ family members sometimes arrive months late or go missing entirely, Ashley T., the mother of a sailor aboard the Lincoln said. She requested that CNN withhold her last name to protect the sailor’s identity. “I understand they are in a combat zone, but if they aren’t allowed any port calls, the least (the Navy) could do is make sure they are getting packages in a timely fashion,” she said. Another family member, who requested anonymity to protect their sailor, shared photos of overflowing toilets in sewage-saturated restroom areas — an issue also experienced by the Ford during its deployment. The spouse of a service member aboard the Lincoln who spoke to CNN told Tapper on Friday, “He is saying that it is the worst deployment that he’s ever been on.” “My husband is a very leave-it-at-work type of person,” she said. “He gets his job done. He comes home, and he lets it go at work. He does his best. He works very hard for United States military, and he’s even said that he finds himself changing. He feels himself being angrier and more frustrated, and that’s just very unlike him. So it’s very hard to hear that as his wife when I can’t do anything about it. I can’t help him.” The conditions have fueled concerns about sailor mental health as well and scrutiny from lawmakers such as Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, who wrote a letter to the Pentagon demanding answers on that status of the crew. Leaders aboard the strike group’s ships are working to improve conditions for their sailors, they previously told CNN. Capt. Casey Mahon, who commands the USS Frank E. Petersen, Jr., acknowledged to CNN’s Pamela Brown aboard the destroyer last month that the combat conditions pose a “very stressful situation” for the sailors. He said the ship holds group therapy and venting sessions where sailors can provide feedback, and leaders encourage lighter-hearted methods of stress relief such as ice cream socials and bulletin boards where sailors can post memes about their experiences. And despite the challenges, the sailors of the Lincoln strike group have launched approximately 10,000 aircraft flights supporting strikes on Iran and enforcing the US blockade of the country, according to US Central Command. Yet Navy officials have been questioning the current model in light of recent operations. The Navy’s top enlisted sailor, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy John Perryman, recently criticized the existing cycle as a “conveyor belt that’s very prescriptive” derived from a “peacetime mindset.” “We’re going to have to come up with a different force generation model,” Perryman said while discussing the USS Gerald R. Ford’s 11-month deployment during a recent Military Officers Association of America event. Part of the problem is that aircraft carriers are a finite asset: the US has eleven of the ships, some of which are aging and pending replacement with new Ford-class supercarriers. Not all the ships are simultaneously available due to maintenance requirements and reactor fueling schedules as well. The new Ford-class carriers have faced repeated delays, too. The USS John F. Kennedy, which began its final sea trials this week, is scheduled for delivery to the Navy in March 2027 — nearly two years later than originally projected. And recently announced changes to the USS Doris Miller — the next scheduled Ford-class supercarrier — could delay its construction even further, experts told CNN. Trump directed that the Navy scrap its plans to use an electromagnetic system for launching aircraft from future Ford-class ships. The current ships in the class use the system, but the Miller and future ships will use steam-powered launch catapults like those on the legacy Nimitz-class aircraft carriers. That will require the Miller to be redesigned, Hudson Institute shipbuilding expert Bryan Clark told CNN. The cost “will probably be into the billions” and it could delay the carrier — which was expected to be in service around 2034 — “until the end of the next decade.” Any delay could force the Navy to extend deployments to cover for a ship it had planned to have available or operate its last-generation Nimitz-class carriers beyond their 50-year service life. Davis Winkie’s work at CNN is supported by a partnership between Outrider Foundation and Journalism Funding Partners (JFP). CNN retains full editorial control of the reporting. CNN’s Kaanita Iyer, Sean Lyngaas, Zachary Cohen, Brian Todd and Ros Adkin contributed to this report.

Featured Shows & Films Network TV Wife of service member aboard the USS Lincoln responds to Trump’s claim that families aren’t concerned about their loved ones By Jake Tapper, CNN Published 8:02 PM EDT, Fri August 14, 2026 !uss lincoln.jpg Wife of service member aboard the USS Lincoln responds to Trump’s claim that families aren’t concerned about their loved ones The Lead The wife of a service member aboard the USS Lincoln joins The Lead. 4:53 • Source: CNN Latest Videos 11 videos !uss lincoln.jpg Video Ad Feedback Wife of service member aboard the USS Lincoln responds to Trump’s claim that families aren’t concerned about their loved ones Now playing • Source: CNN !NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 14: Members of the press report from the front of Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse ahead of a Luigi Mangione court hearing on August 14, 2026 in New York City. Mangione is set to appear in court for his federal case, where he is expected to plead guilty to two federal counts of stalking. He is accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on Dec. 4, 2024, in Midtown Manhattan. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to the state charges. \(Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images\) Video Ad Feedback Inside the courtroom where Luigi Mangione pleaded guilty Now playing • Source: CNN !NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 11: Luigi Mangione attends a pre-trial appearance at Manhattan Criminal Court on August 11, 2026 in New York City. 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A short while ago, a reporter asked trump about whether conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln were so bad because it had been on continuous duty for so long. In response, he Dismisses Concerns About Conditions on a U.S. Aircraft Carrier (NYT): Speaking to reporters in Washington before departing for an event in Long Island, Trump snapped, “No, they’re not,” when a reporter suggested family members of U.S. servicemembers aboard the vessel growing concerned about the crew, which has spent more than eight and a half months at sea. Asked whether the deployment had gone on too long, Trump said its deployment had lasted “not nearly long enough.” He acknowledged, however, that the Navy would soon be replaced by “with another very similar ship.” [emphasis added] Nice of him to say that another aircraft carrier “similar ship” (trump-speak for, well, who knows what he means) is coming in, but that doesn’t change the casual cruelty with which he dismissed the hell he is putting our servicemen and women through. Forbes shows trump in even worse light: Trump Says USS Lincoln Hasn’t Been Deployed ‘Nearly Long Enough’—Denies Families’ Concerns. President Donald Trump denied families of service members aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln have expressed concerns about conditions on the ship and said the nine-month deployment wasn’t “nearly long enough,” prompting near immediate blowback from lawmakers. Raw Story is even blunter: Trump sneers at suffering sailors stuck on USS Lincoln: ‘Not nearly long enough’ Sailors suffering a mental health crisis aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln were told by President Donald Trump on Friday they hadn’t been stuck on board “nearly long enough.” Every other president has acknowledged that the most solemn duty of their office, the most difficult decision they have to make, is whether to send our troops into harm’s way. trump could care less. He is as cruel to the Americans who have put their lives on the line to carry out his policies as he is to Americans who are the wrong skin color or the wrong gender. ——————– Update 1500 1515 PDT ————————– I haven’t seen any Republican response to this latest disgrace to our nation yet, but Gov. J B Pritzker (Ill.) had this (reported by Newsweek) to say: “I’m not at all surprised to hear this. I’m saddened to hear it,” Pritzker said in a statement to Newsweek. “Our servicemen deserve the support that they have earned by virtue of putting themselves in harm’s way to keep us safe and alive, and they shouldn’t be sent into wars that shouldn’t have been started in the first place.” Gov. Gavin Newsom (CA) posted this on Facebook around 2 hours ago: The 5,000 sailors and Marines who deployed from San Diego aboard the USS Lincoln have been at sea long past the original May return date. Trump couldn’t care less about the brave service members he is jeopardizing with his failed war with Iran. The cruelty is off the charts. People magazine had a damning headline that puts trump’s casual cruelty in perspective: Trump Says Air Carrier Near Iran Hasn’t Been There ‘Nearly Long Enough’ amid Reports of Sailors Throwing Themselves Overboard Still nothing from Republicans.

The Wall Street Journal, citing American officials, reported that the United States is preparing to send the aircraft carrier George Washington to the Middle East to take over missions currently assigned to the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln and replace it within the United States Central Command area of operations. These naval realignments are part of a broader redeployment of U.S. forces and military presence in the region to ensure continued readiness and protect American interests and allies, while maintaining field deterrence amid rising regional tensions. Officials said that sending the George Washington aims to ensure the permanent strategic presence of the Navy’s afloat bases under the fleet, preventing any security vacuum during the crew’s watch rotations and changes in routine deployments.

The Secretary General of the Navy, Huang Cao, acknowledges mental health issues, a lack of basic supplies, and communication problems after nine months of mission The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln returns to the United States after the leakage of several onboard problems caused by the extended duration of its mission, with more than 265 days at sea without docking or touching port after a prolonged military deployment in multiple missions in the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. Several Democratic lawmakers had expressed concern about the USS Abraham Lincoln’s situation in light of reports of poor living conditions for the crew after nearly nine months at sea. In a letter addressed to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao, Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal expressed concern about several issues, including shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, plumbing and drainage problems, and the deterioration of service members’ mental health. “It has been reported that there have been numerous cases of shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, problems with pipes and drains, deteriorating mental health, shipboard safety problems, and disruptions in the mail system, which has led to many aid packages destined for the ship to be lost in transit for months,” Blumenthal wrote in his letter. Navy Secretary Hung Cao announced on his X account the USS Abraham Lincoln’s return to the United States. “It has successfully completed its deployment and will soon return home as part of a planned rotation. More details will be released, but let me be clear: the safety and well-being of our sailors and Marines are always the absolute priority,” he stated. There are reports that several crew members attempted suicide by jumping overboard, according to Stars and Stripes and Navy Times, which cited interviews with sailors and family members. “Reports of several sailors who tried to jump into the sea are unsettling,” wrote Arizona Democratic Senator Mark Kelly, a former Navy pilot and astronaut. In a contradictory message, the Secretary General of the Navy on Friday denied the port and carrier’s problems reported by the media while acknowledging some incidents: “A small number of mental health cases were addressed, with no loss of life.” He also admitted: “Meal plans were adjusted when there was no possibility of replenishing fresh produce, not a single meal was missing.” He added: “Calls home were limited when the operational threat was too high.” Three American officials also told CNN that a sailor fell overboard earlier this month. The sailor was rescued in less than an hour and, wearing a life vest, was not injured. Cited sources said the Navy considers the incident a mental health-related event. The USS Abraham Lincoln entered service almost four decades ago. Since then, it has been updated and modernized. It is powered by two nuclear reactors that allow speeds of up to 35 miles per hour. With a length of more than 330 meters, it can carry more than 90 aircraft, including F-35 and F-38 fighters, a fleet of helicopters, and a swarm of drones, making it one of the United States’ primary warships. The carrier, the fifth-largest in the U.S. Navy with 5,000 service members, began its mission in November 2025 when it sailed from Naval Base San Diego, California, for surveillance and control tasks in the Mediterranean; subsequently, it was assigned to the Caribbean to support the military operation in Venezuela that enabled the capture of Nicolás Maduro. Later, without returning home for leave, the crew was assigned to the Middle East to support U.S. operations in the war against Iran. “By no means has it deployed for long enough,” Donald Trump said on Friday, refuting the carrier’s problems. “The Lincoln’s stay was extended because the mission required it. Deployments are grueling; combat operations make them even harder,” Hung Cao explained on social media. “War is hell and it disrupts routine. One of the hardest aspects of war, beyond consciously exposing our service members to danger, is that even with the best planning and communication, change and uncertainty are always present. Our success depends on how we adapt,” he added. It was planned to extend its mission until May. However, 265 days after it left San Diego, the vessel remains at sea. During this period, the ship has only made two port calls: first, in December, in Guam, a Micronesian island that is part of the United States, and second, in July, in Oman, in the Persian Gulf. The crew of this type of carrier is exposed to long hours near engines powered by nuclear energy and heavy machinery, to which the added stress of constant exposure to Iranian attacks is added. Other Democratic lawmakers have also expressed concern about the military conditions aboard the carrier and have urged a response from the Pentagon. Arizona Democrat Ruben Gallego said on social media Wednesday that he had requested a one-night visit to the Lincoln for a bipartisan delegation of lawmakers. “Unlike Donald Trump, I have served in the military,” said Gallego, who served in combat as a Marine. “The way he is treating our service members while waging this illegal war is not only appalling, but also dangerous,” the senator added. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated on Thursday during a visit to Panama that reports of poor conditions aboard the carrier deployed in the Gulf are “completely distorted,” calling them “fake news.” “We ensure that every ship, every crew, and every captain has everything we can provide at every moment,” the self-styled Secretary of War told reporters during a visit to Panama. “Some deployments are longer than others, and I feel deep respect and gratitude for those sailors. What they do at sea, under such extreme conditions and with so few port calls, is incredible.” I’m seeking an official oversight visit with a bipartisan Senate delegation to the USS Lincoln to investigate the reported alarming conditions. Unlike Donald Trump, I’ve seen active duty. The way he’s treating our service members as he carries out this illegal war is not just… The U.S. government has sent the carrier George Washington, which completed a stop in Vietnam on August 5, to the Middle East to relieve the Abraham Lincoln, as part of a pre-planned rotation schedule, The Wall Street Journal reported. A point that Trump confirmed hours later. “That vessel will be replaced by another similar vessel,” he said when asked by reporters before flying to New York. CENTCOM, the U.S. Army Central Command, called the reports of misconduct or mental health problems aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln “false.” In a post on social media, CENTCOM explained that the carrier’s crew remains “resilient and determined after more than 260 days at sea, 10,000 aircraft sorties, and 1.5 million pounds of ordnance expended.” The Army’s top commander added: “No service member aboard the carrier has died, and the only sailor who fell overboard on August 3 was rescued quickly and safely.” The USS Abraham Lincoln’s situation reflects the wear and tear the United States is experiencing in its war against Iran. Beyond the worrying depletion of its military arsenal, which top military leaders are drawing to the White House’s attention, the Trump Administration has waged one war after another despite Trump’s campaign promise not to start any foreign wars. Beyond Iran, the U.S. military has participated in operations in Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Somalia, Nigeria, the Sahel, Venezuela, and airstrikes against boats in the Caribbean.

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Processing your question... One moment, please! Did you know that by registering on our portal you can access EL TIEMPO’s chatbot and get precise information in your searches? By sending your inquiries, you agree to the Chat’s Terms and Conditions available at the top. Remember that generated responses may contain inaccuracies or blocks, in accordance with content filter policies or the model’s status. This Chat is for informational purposes only. In line with the policies of the AI used by EL TIEMPO, it is not possible to answer questions related to the following topics: hate, sexual, violence, and self-harm. News: What’s happening aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln? U.S. Congress members report shortages and mental health problems as Trump announces his replacement. The aircraft carrier has been deployed since November. Families of service members report shortages, water contamination, and deterioration of mental health. Democratic lawmakers in the United States have demanded responses from the Pentagon regarding the conditions faced by the nearly 5,000 sailors and Marines aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, deployed in the Middle East, following reports of food shortages, plumbing problems, and a mental health crisis. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and Senator Richard Blumenthal, asked the Navy to account for the ship’s situation, which has been deployed for more than 250 days and more than 200 days without touching land, as written. The USS Abraham Lincoln departed San Diego, California, on November 21, 2025, bound for the South China Sea, but was diverted to the Middle East before the joint U.S.-Israel strikes against Iran on February 28, which triggered the war in that region. The situation aboard has raised concerns among the crew’s families, who, in two recent meetings with senior Navy officials, reported food shortages and demanded to know when their loved ones would return home, according to the MSNOW television channel. The reports also include serious mental health problems. Senator Ruben Gallego asked on X for an official oversight visit to the aircraft carrier by a bipartisan Senate delegation to investigate the reported conditions. Gallego said some crew members have threatened to jump overboard and listed other difficulties: moldy showers, interruptions in hot water supply, rationed meals and soap, broken bathrooms, and 12 to 16-hour work shifts with no days off. The reports about conditions aboard the warship come as Washington prepares its relaunch. President Donald Trump confirmed this Friday that another aircraft carrier will soon replace the USS Abraham Lincoln, though he played down the duration of its deployment and the reports about the crew’s situation. “It will be replaced by another similar one,” Trump said when asked about the issue at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. All signs point to the replacement being the USS George Washington, which, according to various sources, is already en route to the Middle East. Both ships are nuclear-powered aircraft carriers of the Nimitz class. Trump noted that the new vessel “is in transit now” to the region and is expected to arrive in the coming days. Trump, however, downplayed the criticisms and stated that the USS Abraham Lincoln “isn’t even close to having enough time deployed.” The Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, also rejected the reports about the situation aboard and said on Thursday that the information had been “distorted.” According to Hegseth, the Pentagon ensures that every ship, crew, and captain has everything they need, while noting that “some deployments are longer than others.” 🚫 CLAIM: Over the past 48 hours, multiple media outlets have reported several false claims related to USS Abraham Lincoln's (CVN 72) deployment to the Middle East. One report alleged seven Sailors died in a brawl aboard the aircraft carrier and others have recently suggested a… pic.twitter.com/U1Hg6l1pjN. The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) rejected the information spread about the USS Abraham Lincoln as false. According to the command, no service member has died aboard the carrier and the only sailor who fell overboard on August 3 was recovered quickly and safely. The Navy also noted that the ship maintains an 84.4% reenlistment rate and that the strike group has been at sea for more than 260 days, during which it has conducted 10,000 flights and used 1.5 million pounds of munitions.

Topline President Donald Trump denied families of service members aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln have expressed concerns about conditions on the ship and said the nine-month deployment wasn’t “nearly long enough,” prompting near immediate blowback from lawmakers. Key Facts Trump said “no they’re not” when a reporter confronted him on Friday about the physical and mental health concerns family of service members on board and lawmakers have expressed, according to multiple reports. He said, “no, no, not nearly long enough,” when asked if the deployment had gone on too long. Democrats in Congress promptly criticized the president, with Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., writing on X that parents of service members on board have reached out to her office directly to express concerns, while Sen. Andy Kim, D-NJ, wrote on X, “the disregard and disrespect that Trump is showing our sailors and Marines is appalling.” Trump said the USS Lincoln will be replaced “very shortly” by “another very similar ship,” seemingly confirming reports that the ship will be replaced in the Middle East by the Japan-based USS George Washington. The Lincoln has been at sea for a record 200 consecutive days as of Wednesday, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., wrote in a letter to acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday, expressing “serious concerns” about the deployment and reports of “shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, plumbing issues, deteriorating mental health, deck safety concerns, and disruptions in the mail system.” Hegseth told reporters on Thursday the concerns have been “completely misrepresented,” claiming “we make sure that every ship, every crew, every captain has everything we can provide them at every single moment.” Tangent Some family members of the 5,000 service members on board the USS Abraham Lincoln reportedly confronted Cao at in-person and virtual meetings last week about the conditions aboard the ship and pleaded with him for an end date of the deployment, according to multiple reports. One parent said her daughter who is on board the ship fears she will never come home and die at sea, MS Now reported. A spouse told officials her husband messaged her and said “he hopes he doesn’t wake up tomorrow,” according to the independent military news publication Stars and Stripes, citing an unnamed source who attended the meeting. Vice Adm. Douglas Verissimo reportedly told the families “I look forward to the day when we can have at least a date window for home port . . . but we don’t have that right now,” according to MS NOW, citing a recording of the virtual meeting. Key Background The USS Lincoln left its homeport of San Diego on Nov. 21 for a routine Pacific deployment and was rerouted to the Middle East in January ahead of the U.S. attacks on Iran in February. It has made only two port calls since, once in Guam in December and again in Oman in July, according to the military publication Stars and Stripes. Only some sailors were allowed to deboard in Guam and in Oman, they were restricted to a secure compound within the port. Stars and Stripes and the Navy Times have both reported there have been multiple suicide attempts on board. Blumenthal said in his letter that the USS Lincoln’s extended deployment “is not an isolated case,” noting the USS Gerald R. Ford spent 326 days at sea before returning to its homeport in May. He expressed concerns that the prolonged deployments could continue as the administration continues to pour resources into the Iran war.

Trump says record Navy deployment in Iran operations 'not nearly long enough' US President Donald Trump on Friday dismissed concerns about the toll on sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, who have endured a record deployment of almost nine months, saying that the deployment had been “not nearly long enough”. The Lincoln has been supporting the US war against Iran, and reports have emerged of sailors struggling with mental health issues. US President Donald Trump on Friday downplayed the toll on American sailors enduring a record-setting deployment of nearly nine months on the USS Abraham Lincoln as concerns escalated about mental health and supply issues aboard the aircraft carrier supporting US operations against Iran. In a brief exchange with reporters before flying to New York for an event to highlight falling violent crime rates across the US, Trump refuted that family members have raised concerns about the deployment's length and even said that the more than 260-day deployment is “not nearly long enough.” "That ship is moving right now, or very shortly, and it’s being replaced with another very similar ship,” Trump said when asked about the lengthy deployment. The Lincoln has been supporting the US war against Iran, and several Democratic lawmakers, including Sens. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Ruben Gallego of Arizona, are pressing for accountability from the Pentagon over conditions aboard the carrier, which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday said were “completely misrepresented”. To display this content from YouTube, you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement. One of your browser extensions seems to be blocking the video player from loading. To watch this content, you may need to disable it on this site. Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., who served three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne Division and 75th Ranger Regiment before being elected, took to social media to criticize Trump’s comments, saying on X that “President Trump does not care about our servicemembers or their families". Extended deployments of carriers during the Iran conflict have raised concerns about the impact on service members who are away from home for long periods as well as the increasing strain on the ship and its equipment. While hostilities between the US and Iran have calmed in recent weeks, the Navy has reimposed a blockade on Iranian ports in the crucial Strait of Hormuz, and the Trump administration has offered no clarity on how it intends to wind down the war. Hegseth said that the US military can maintain the blockage of Iranian ports “indefinitely”. Another aircraft carrier, the USS George Washington, left port in Da Nang, Vietnam, last week, and is expected to replace the USS Lincoln, one of two aircraft carriers currently deployed in the Middle East. Read moreIran vows to keep Strait of Hormuz closed until US meets demands After reports emerged that sailors on the Lincoln are struggling with mental health concerns, the Navy said it has “not observed an increase in suicidal ideations or attempts aboard the ship”, though officials have declined to provide data, citing operational security and patient privacy concerns. A Navy official said that a sailor aboard the Lincoln went overboard in early August but that the person was quickly recovered, treated by the ship’s medical department and transferred off ship for follow-on care. The official would not say whether it was being considered a suicide attempt. US Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, has also pushed back on reports about poor conditions. (FRANCE 24 with AP)

Prolonged Lincoln deployment raises mental-health, morale and safety concerns The US Navy is preparing to send the aircraft carrier USS George Washington to the Middle East to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln, whose deployment has stretched to more than eight months as the Iran war continues. The rotation, reported by the Wall Street Journal, was planned before the latest concerns about conditions aboard the Lincoln, but its timing has put a spotlight on the extraordinary strain of keeping a carrier and its crew at sea for so long. The Lincoln has gone roughly 200 days without a port call, far longer than the typical 30-to-45-day interval often expected between port visits. The USS George Washington has been operating in the Western Pacific and was recently in Vietnam. It has since moved west through the Strait of Malacca toward the Indian Ocean and Middle East, according to US Navy tracking and reporting. The Abraham Lincoln deployed in November and was subsequently sent to the Middle East as the US-Israeli war with Iran intensified. It has supported US combat operations and the broader campaign against Iran, including operations connected to the blockade of Iranian ports. What was originally a long deployment has now become an exceptionally prolonged one. The carrier has reportedly spent more than 200 consecutive days without a port visit. For sailors, a port call is not simply recreation. It provides opportunities to rest, obtain supplies, receive medical and administrative support, maintain equipment and reconnect with the outside world. The absence of those breaks is at the heart of the current controversy. Reports from sailors, relatives and lawmakers describe deteriorating living conditions aboard the carrier, including claims of shortages involving fresh food, milk, toiletries and other personal supplies, as well as plumbing and sanitation problems. Family members have also reported messages from sailors describing exhaustion and deteriorating morale. The allegations have prompted congressional scrutiny. Sen. Richard Blumenthal has demanded answers from the Pentagon about the conditions aboard the carrier, while other lawmakers have called for greater oversight of the deployment and the welfare of its crew. The Navy and Pentagon have pushed back against the characterization that the ship has been abandoned or deprived of essential supplies. Hegseth said the reports were misleading and defended the military's support for the sailors. While there is growing evidence of serious concern among sailors, families and lawmakers, but the full extent of the reported shortages and mental-health problems remains disputed by military leadership. The most serious reports concern sailors allegedly attempting to go overboard. Military publications have reported multiple incidents in which sailors aboard the Lincoln attempted to jump overboard or were stopped by fellow crew members. The reports have intensified calls for an investigation into whether the unprecedented length of the deployment is contributing to a mental-health crisis. The Navy has disputed some of the characterization surrounding the incidents, making a comprehensive independent assessment particularly important. For a carrier carrying thousands of sailors and Marines, the issue goes beyond individual welfare. Crew exhaustion can eventually become a readiness issue. A carrier operating continuously in a combat zone needs sailors capable of maintaining aircraft, weapons, propulsion, communications, navigation and flight-deck operations under extreme pressure. The arrival of the George Washington would provide Washington with a fresh carrier strike group without immediately reducing its military presence in the Middle East. The carrier is a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and is already forward-deployed with the U.S. 7th Fleet in the Indo-Pacific. Its movement west therefore demonstrates the enormous demands the Iran conflict is placing on America's global naval fleet. The US wants to maintain enough naval power in the Middle East to support combat operations, protect shipping and deter Iran — while also retaining sufficient forces in the Pacific to deter China.

The wife of a sailor aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln is speaking out after her husband reportedly jumped from the aircraft carrier earlier this month. The wife, who spoke to MS NOW on the condition of anonymity, said the Navy did not contact her about the reported incident, which occurred on Aug. 3, until four days later. “I think that it was handled very poorly because they didn’t inform me and they didn’t want me to know, and they’re just trying to cover this up,” the woman told MS NOW. She said her husband spent nearly an hour in the water after jumping in before being rescued. The woman is now awaiting her husband’s return to San Diego after he undergoes a medical evaluation, according to the report. The sailor’s wife said she only learned of her husband’s “suicide attempt” after one of her husband’s friends aboard the ship messaged her that someone from his squadron went overboard, according to the report. MS NOW reportedly reviewed text messages revealing that the same friend later told her it was her husband. She was reportedly unable to contact him and reached out to the ship’s ombudsman for more information. The Navy wife’s account to MS NOW comes in the wake of multiple reports of increasingly dire conditions aboard the carrier amid the ongoing war in Iran. This includes food shortages, water quality issues, mental health issues and concerns about self-harm. The Pacific-based aircraft carrier USS George Washington is reportedly now headed to the Middle East. The Lincoln left San Diego on Nov. 21, 2025, eventually setting the record for 240 days for uninterrupted time at sea during the Iran war. If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for mental health support. Additionally, you can find local mental health and crisis resources at dontcallthepolice.com. Outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention.

Trump shrugs off USS Abraham Lincoln strain as Democrats press Pentagon Donald Trump dismissed concerns over the USS Abraham Lincoln's record deployment in the Middle East. The remarks intensified scrutiny of sailor welfare, ship conditions and the wider Iran mission. US President Donald Trump on Friday played down concerns over the record uninterrupted deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East, even as Democratic lawmakers questioned the toll on sailors aboard the aircraft carrier, including possible mental health and supply issues. Speaking briefly to reporters before leaving for New York for an event on falling violent crime rates in the US, Trump rejected suggestions that family members were worried about the length of the deployment. Referring to the more than 260-day mission, he said it was “not nearly long enough” and added that the ship “is moving right now, or very shortly, and it's being replaced with another very similar ship”. The Lincoln has been supporting the US war against Iran, and several Democratic lawmakers, including Senators Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Ruben Gallego of Arizona, have sought accountability from the Pentagon over conditions on board. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Thursday that the concerns had been “completely misrepresented”. Representative Jason Crow, a Democrat from Colorado who served three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne Division and 75th Ranger Regiment before entering politics, criticised Trump's remarks on social media. In a post on X, he said, “President Trump does not care about our servicemembers or their families.” The long carrier deployments during the Iran conflict have raised concerns about the effect on service members spending extended periods away from home, as well as growing strain on the ship and its equipment. Although hostilities between the US and Iran have eased in recent weeks, the Navy has reimposed a blockade on Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz. The Trump administration has not said how it plans to wind down the war, and Hegseth has said the US military can maintain the blockade of Iranian ports “indefinitely”. Another aircraft carrier, the USS George Washington, left port in Da Nang, Vietnam, last week and is expected to replace the Lincoln, one of two aircraft carriers currently deployed in the Middle East. After reports that sailors on the Lincoln were struggling with mental health concerns, the Navy said it had “not observed an increase in suicidal ideations or attempts aboard the ship”, though officials declined to provide data, citing operational security and patient privacy concerns. A Navy official said a sailor aboard the Lincoln went overboard in early August, was quickly recovered, treated by the ship's medical department and transferred off the ship for follow-on care, but did not say whether it was being considered a suicide attempt. US Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, has also pushed back on reports about poor conditions. The Lincoln's lengthy deployment remains under scrutiny, with Trump and military officials rejecting criticism while Democratic lawmakers continue to press for answers on conditions aboard the carrier and the wider US military operation in the region. With PTI Inputs

The Washington Post, in an editorial, described the American war on Iran as a strategic failure, but said that containing Tehran remains a better option than reaching a deal with it. The paper’s editorial board wrote that Trump, who views foreign policy through a deal-making lens just as he does in his business ventures, considers achieving an agreement a victory in itself. The editorial writers argue that this approach has sometimes worked, but has reached a dead end on the Iranian file. The war did not achieve Washington’s objectives. The Washington Post’s editorial described the war, which the Trump administration began against Iran on February 28 of last year, as a strategic failure by every measure. According to the paper, the strike that led to the death of the late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, failed to topple the Iranian regime, and Tehran’s ballistic missile capabilities and the activities of its affiliated groups remain ongoing. The paper wrote that the “12-day war” in June 2025 and the renewed bombardment in February set back Iran’s nuclear program significantly, but continued fighting simultaneously reinforced Tehran’s motivation to acquire a nuclear weapon. Iran now also claims to control the Strait of Hormuz. An agreement that did not resolve who would control the Strait of Hormuz According to the editorial, the essence of the memorandum of understanding signed last June between the United States and Iran was a two-way deal: Washington would lift sanctions and end its blockade, in return for allowing Tehran’s ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. But the memorandum did not address the fundamental question of which party would manage the strait. Iran believed it had the right to impose conditions on ship traffic and collect fees for services, and in May of last year it established an entity called the “Gulf Waterway Organization” for this purpose. The Washington Post wrote that Trump ignored this dispute and signed the memorandum, but returned to war after Iran opened fire on passing vessels in July of last year. The paper states that resuming the attacks did not change facts on the ground and did not prevent Iran from continuing actions against maritime movement. The editorial also considered that Trump’s hesitation to put American troops at risk signaled to hardliners in Iran that Washington did not want to escalate the war further. A lack of interceptor missiles and Gulf states’ fears of retaliatory attacks pushed the administration toward halting further strikes. Sanctions and blockade… American pressure tools The Washington Post editorial board argues that the United States still has powerful leverage tools, but using them requires discarding the idea that reaching a deal with the Iranian government is desirable or necessary. According to the paper, the U.S. naval blockade has dealt significant damage to the Iranian economy and the value of its currency, Iranian oil exports have fallen, and tens of billions of dollars of Tehran’s assets remain frozen. The Post views the call to condition the lifting of sanctions on Iran’s concessions as reflecting the importance of these pressure tools. The editorial likened Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz to taking hostages, but said global markets largely priced in the consequences of the strait’s closure, and oil prices had not yet reached catastrophic levels. At the same time, energy producers are pursuing alternative routes. The Trump administration says that between five and seven million barrels of oil per day are being taken out of the region via pipelines and new export facilities. Saudi Arabia is also forming a multinational coalition to protect Red Sea navigation from groups affiliated with Iran. A call to continue the containment policy The Washington Post, in its editorial, concluded that Iran containment policy is bearing fruit and that the United States should maintain naval blockade in a more sustainable way. The paper proposed reducing the number of ships involved in interception and inspection directly, and instead imposing sanctions on Iranian oil buyers who manage to bypass the blockade. Among other proposals the editorial offered were keeping Iranian assets frozen, continuing to confront Tehran’s affiliated groups in Yemen, Iraq, Lebanon, and Gaza, and maintaining the threat of a major escalation of the conflict, especially if the Iranian government attempts to revive its nuclear program. In conclusion, the editorial warned that striking a deal with Iran and unlocking more financial resources for Tehran would reward its behavior and fund a new round of instability. The paper argued that a skilled negotiator should know when to walk away from negotiations.

President Donald Trump dismissed concerns Friday over living conditions and the mental health of service members on a U.S. aircraft carrier deployed against Iran, while confirming the ship would soon rotate out. Asked by reporters whether family members were worried about the situation on the USS Abraham Lincoln, Trump said "no, they're not." Trump also rejected the idea that the ship -- now in its ninth month at sea -- had been deployed for too long. "No, no, no, not nearly enough," he said. The president meanwhile confirmed reports that the ship was due to be swapped out with another aircraft carrier, as the United States remains locked in a stalemate with Iran over control of the Strait of Hormuz and the country's nuclear program. "That ship is moving right now or very shortly and it's being replaced with another very similar ship," Trump said. U.S. media, including specialist military publications, have quoted multiple relatives of crew members saying living conditions have deteriorated on the Lincoln. There have also been reports of several suicide attempts. Democratic lawmakers are calling for probes into the situation. The massive nuclear-powered ship departed California in November 2025 for duty in the South China Sea and was rerouted to the Middle East before U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran that began February 28. Jonathan Schroden, chief research officer at the Center for Naval Analyses, told AFP that carrier strike groups are generally designed for six-month deployments for reasons "including sailor welfare." Media coverage of the families' complaints creates an unwelcome new front for Trump in his attempt to sell the already unpopular war. The Republican won a shock second term in 2024 partly on his insistence that he would not involve the United States in so-called Mideast "forever wars" and the conflict has contributed to dragging down his poll numbers. Among the more disturbing details emerging from the accounts by sailors' families was that two sailors had tried to jump overboard. The US military has said that one sailor who fell into the sea on August 3 was recovered. A U.S. official denied that mental health was an issue. "We have not observed an increase in suicidal ideations or attempts aboard the ship," the official said, adding that the Abraham Lincoln has available five chaplains, one psychologist, one social workers, a "prevention coordinator" and a dog named CAPT Fathom "to support crew morale and emotional welfare." "Adapting to life at sea can be difficult, so we've learned how to provide resources and help Sailors with these transitions," the official said. © 2026 AFP

Lectura 3:00 min Lectura 3:00 min El secretario de Defensa, Pete Hegseth, se refirió a los reportes publicados sobre problemas de salud mental en la tripulación del USS Abraham Lincoln, en plena guerra con Irán. Luego de que se filtraran en los medios de Estados Unidos los reportes sobre malas condiciones y problemas de salud mental en el portaaviones USS Abraham Lincoln, que se encuentra en aguas en Oriente Medio, un funcionario de la Administración Trump se convirtió en el primero en responder. De hecho, se conoció que el portaaviones USS George Washington ha comenzado su trayecto hacia donde se encuentra el Lincoln, desde el océano Pacífico. Y ha sido el secretario de Defensa de Donald Trump, Pete Hegseth, quien se refirió a los reportes sobre problemas de salud mental en la tripulación del USS Abraham Lincoln, en plena guerra con Irán. Dijo que los informes son "una intepretación totalmente errónea". "Algunos despliegues son más largos", dice Hegseth "Miren, nos aseguramos que cada barco, cada tripulación y cada capitán cuenten con todo lo que podemos proporcionarles en cada momento", comenzó sus intervenciones Hegseth, en una entrevista con Newsmax, retomada por CNN. El funcionario de Trump, que dio las declaraciones desde Panamá, agregó que "algunos despliegues son más largos que otros y siento un profundo respeto y gratitud por esos infantes de Marina". Los despliegues prolongados de portaaviones durante el conflicto con Irán han generado preocupación por el impacto en los soldados de permanecer mucho tiempo fuera de casa, así como por la creciente tensión sobre el buque y su recursos. Un conflicto con implicaciones en el personal desplegado Si bien las hostilidades entre Estados Unidos e Irán se han calmado en las últimas semanas, la Marina ha reimpuesto un bloqueo sobre los puertos iraníes en el estrecho de Ormuz, y la Casa Blanca no ha sido del todo clara sobre cómo pretende poner fin a la guerra. El Lincoln se desplegó originalmente el 21 de noviembre desde San Diego y llegó a la región en enero, antes del inicio de la guerra con Irán del 28 de febrero. La Marina reconoció que el conflicto creó un “entorno sumamente complicado en el que los centros tradicionales de suministro en Oriente Medio se vieron interrumpidos por acciones de combate”. Eso, a su vez, provocó escasez y la pérdida de correo a bordo del portaaviones, señaló la Marina en un comunicado. Desde el Lincoln han surgido reportes de que marineros lidian con preocupaciones de salud mental. La Marina subrayó en su comunicado que “no ha observado un aumento de ideas o intentos suicidas a bordo del buque”, pero las autoridades se negaron a proporcionar datos bajo el argumento de la seguridad operativa y preocupaciones de privacidad de los pacientes. El funcionario de la Marina dijo que un marinero a bordo del Lincoln cayó por la borda a principios de agosto, pero que fue rescatado y atendido de inmediato por el equipo médico del buque, antes de ser trasladado para continuar con su tratamiento. El funcionario no dijo si se consideró el incidente como un intento de suicidio. Otros portaaviones también han tenido despliegues prolongados que han generado preocupación por el estado de ánimo de la tripulación. El USS Gerald R. Ford regresó a casa a mediados de mayo luego de un despliegue de 11 meses, el más largo desde la Guerra de Vietnam, durante el cual brindó apoyo en la guerra de Estados Unidos contra Irán y en la captura del presidente venezolano Nicolás Maduro.

The American aircraft carrier USS George Washington, belonging to the Pacific Fleet, has begun moving east toward the Middle East, according to the Associated Press. The agency notes that this move comes after reports that the crew of the long-deployed USS Abraham Lincoln has been grappling with mental health and supply-chain issues. Lincoln continues to support U.S. military operations against Iran, having logged a record-long continuous deployment at sea of more than 260 days. This occurs as several Democratic lawmakers press the Pentagon for transparency and accountability over conditions aboard the ship, which Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin described yesterday as “completely misleading.” Long-Deployment Fallout: The extension of aircraft carrier deployments during the Iran conflict has raised growing concerns about the psychological and physical toll on service members far from home for extended periods, as well as the mounting strain on ships and their systems. The George Washington departed Da Nang, Vietnam, last week, according to a US Navy statement, after the carrier and a cruiser were spotted crossing the Singapore Strait. A US Navy official confirmed that the carrier was in the Malacca Strait, linking the Pacific and Indian Oceans, placing it on a course toward the Indian Ocean. The Wall Street Journal previously reported that George Washington would replace Lincoln to become one of two carriers stationed in the Middle East. The agency highlighted that this move leaves the Pacific without a U.S. aircraft carrier for an undetermined period, and the Trump administration views China as the region’s dominant power that requires deterrence solely to prevent it from dominating the United States or its allies, rather than as the world’s primary adversary as was the case under the Biden administration. Origins of the Crisis: Supply and Mail Shortages: Lincoln originally departed San Diego on November 21 and arrived in the Middle East in January before the February 28 outbreak of the war with Iran, during which the Navy acknowledged the conflict created a “highly competitive environment that disrupted traditional supply hubs in the Middle East due to combat operations,” leading to material shortages and loss of mail destined for sailors. The Navy said in a statement that priority was given to mission-critical supplies: “First food, then sanitary supplies, followed by messages and mail,” and confirmed sailors now have access to drinking water and healthy dietary options. Democratic Demands for Investigation: Democratic lawmakers are calling for investigations and more information and transparency about conditions aboard the ship, which was scheduled to return in May. Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, wrote to Navy leadership: “The long deployment of Lincoln is especially significant given the ongoing operations against Iran and the potential need for a large American naval presence in the region for extended periods.” Separately, Senator Kyrsten Sinema? (Note: The original text mentions Senator Robin Gallego of Arizona; the English name is typically Ruben Gallego) announced on social media that he seeks to lead a bipartisan delegation to inspect the ship, describing the handling of sailors as “not only despicable but dangerous.” Mental Health Reports: Reports emerged that Lincoln’s sailors are facing mental health issues. The Navy stated it had not observed an increase in suicidal thoughts or attempts aboard the ship, but officials declined to provide specific numerical data to protect operational security and patient privacy. A Navy official reported that one sailor fell from Lincoln in early August but was quickly rescued and treated aboard the ship’s medical facility before being moved for further care, with no clarification on whether the incident is classified as an attempted suicide. Other aircraft carriers have also faced long deployments that raised morale concerns, including USS Gerald R. Ford returning to its area in mid-May after an 11-month deployment—the longest since the Vietnam War—while supporting operations against Iran and the detention of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Ford experienced a fire in the laundry section during its mission, forcing it to circle back to the Mediterranean for repairs, leaving hundreds of sailors without sleeping quarters. Concerns about combat readiness and the strain on ships and crews predate the Iran war, with several incidents during confrontations with Yemen's Houthi rebels in 2024 and 2025, including the USS Harry S. Truman incident, which also saw an unexpectedly extended service period.

In a Wednesday letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., demanded answers to reports that approximately 5,000 men and women aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier have been stuck in the Persian Gulf with “shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, plumbing issues, deteriorating mental health, deck safety concerns, and disruptions in the mail system.” Blumenthal’s mention of “deteriorating mental health” follows reports from the Military Times and Stars and Stripes that multiple sailors have tried to jump off the USS Lincoln. During their almost nine months at sea, those aboard the carrier have faced Iranian drone and missile attacks and have had inexcusably poor logistical support. Blumenthal’s mention of “deteriorating mental health” follows reports that multiple sailors have tried to jump off the USS Lincoln. But in keeping with the Trump administration’s pattern of gaslighting and denial, Hegseth has claimed, with zero evidence, that stories about Navy personnel being so mentally and physically exhausted that they’ve tried to harm themselves have “completely misrepresented” the conditions aboard the carrier. Hegseth is following President Donald Trump’s lead. When news broke at the start of the war that the U.S. had struck an Iranian girls’ school during its initial bombardment of Iran, the president immediately claimed, with zero evidence, that an Iranian missile had killed the more than 170 girls and their teachers. That wasn’t true. A U.S. strike, one that, according to a preliminary inquiry, may have been an egregious targeting error that relied on old intelligence, was to blame. Trump’s irresponsible and unconstitutional war against Iran has killed 18 service members and left more than 600 physically injured. Indeed, they have tried to downplay those casualties. In the present case, the president and defense secretary also want us to ignore reports that their awful choices have caused and are continuing to cause significant mental health harm and moral injury to our military personnel. The more this administration denies and deflects, the more the American people should stand up and pay attention. Because the stakes are enormous. Any mounting mental health crisis among deployed service members would be troubling in and of itself, given the lifelong effect trauma can have on Americans who volunteer for military service (plus the knock-on community effects, such as a disproportionate number of veterans in the unhoused population and incarcerated veterans). And preventable military mental health injury is known to have significant ripple effects, including negatively affecting a service member’s ability to carry on the mission as effectively as possible, increasing family members’ suffering at home, affecting near- and long-term recruiting and giving America’s enemies the satisfaction that we are hurting ourselves. The U.S. spends more on its military than the next six nations behind us. That makes it particularly inexcusable that a war of choice seems to have set our service members up for preventable suffering. Of course, fighting wars is hard, and those in uniform always will shoulder the most direct impact, but good leaders consider the effect of their decisions on service members and do everything possible to ensure not only adequate defenses from threats such as missile and drone attacks but also appropriate logistical support to those in harm’s way.

The Pacific-based aircraft carrier USS George Washington has begun heading toward the Middle East as reports have emerged of mental health and supply issues aboard the long-deployed USS Abraham Lincoln. The Lincoln has been supporting the U.S. war against Iran, and its deployment has included a record-setting uninterrupted time at sea of more than 240 days. Several Democratic lawmakers are pressing for accountability from the Pentagon over conditions aboard the carrier, which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday said were “completely misrepresented.” Extended deployments of carriers during the Iran conflict have raised concerns about the impact on service members who are away from home for long periods as well as the increasing strain on the ship and its equipment. While renewed hostilities between the U.S. and Iran have calmed in recent weeks, the Navy has reimposed a blockade on Iranian ports in the crucial Strait of Hormuz, and the Trump administration has offered no clarity on how it intends to wind down the war. A new aircraft carrier is heading west from the Asia-Pacific The USS George Washington left port in Da Nang, Vietnam, last week, a Navy statement said. The carrier, along with a cruiser and a destroyer, have since been spotted crossing the Singapore Strait. A Navy official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to detail sensitive ship details, confirmed that the Washington was in the Strait of Malacca, which links the Pacific and Indian oceans and puts the carrier on a course to head into the Indian Ocean. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier that the Washington would replace the Lincoln as one of the two aircraft carriers now stationed in the Middle East. Replacing an aircraft carrier takes several weeks to complete, as the new and departing ships typically overlap for some time before the swap is completed. The Lincoln then needs to travel back to its home base in San Diego, a trip that would take at least two weeks, NBC News reported. For weeks, the Navy has been attempting to get the Lincoln to a port — visits that can occur monthly on a typical carrier deployment — but concerns about threats in the region have delayed that, one U.S. official told NBC News. The Lincoln originally deployed Nov. 21 from San Diego, and it arrived in the region in January, ahead of the launch of the Iran war on Feb. 28. The Navy conceded that the conflict created a “highly contested environment where traditional supply hubs in the Middle East were disrupted by combat actions." That, in turn, led to shortages and loss of mail aboard the aircraft carrier, the Navy said in a statement. “Leadership prioritized mission-critical supplies: first food, then hygiene items, then mail,” the statement said, before assuring that sailors aboard the ship now have access to clean water and “healthy meal options.” Democrats call for scrutiny, while the Pentagon defends conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln Democratic lawmakers are calling for investigations, more information and greater visibility into conditions aboard the ship, which was originally set to return home in May. “The Lincoln’s prolonged deployment is especially significant because it is occurring in the context of continuing military operations against Iran and the possibility that substantial US naval forces will be required in the region for an extended period,” Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, wrote in a letter to Navy leadership asking for a response to several questions. Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego, a Marine Corps veteran, said on social media that he is looking to take a bipartisan delegation on an official oversight visit to the ship and that the way sailors are being treated is “not just disgusting; it’s dangerous.” Hegseth told reporters during a visit to Panama that he wants the Lincoln's sailors home and crews rotated as quickly as possible but pushed back against reports of problems aboard. “We make sure that every ship, every crew, every captain has everything we can provide them at every single moment. Some deployments are longer than others, and I have more respect and gratitude for those sailors than anybody. What they do in those high seas in those austere conditions with less port calls — it’s incredible.” Navy leaders, including acting Secretary Hung Cao, last week held a tense town hall for families of troops aboard the USS Lincoln, at which the commanders of the Navy’s air and surface forces promised to do everything they could to relieve the aircraft carrier. MS NOW reported earlier on the meeting. When reports of food shortages aboard the ship first surfaced in April, the Navy pushed back, calling those reports “false.” Reports of mental health concerns and more aboard the ship Reports have since emerged that sailors on the Lincoln are struggling with mental health concerns. The Navy said in its statement that it has “not observed an increase in suicidal ideations or attempts aboard the ship,” but officials declined to provide data, citing operational security and patient privacy concerns. The Navy official said that a sailor aboard the Lincoln went overboard in early August but that the person was quickly recovered, treated by the ship’s medical department and transferred off ship for follow-on care. The official would not say if it was being considered a suicide attempt. An official told NBC News that in recent weeks, there have been some “man overboard” incidents on the Lincoln. These incidents have raised concerns within the Navy, but so far have not been viewed as reflective of a broad mental health crisis aboard the carrier, according to the U.S. official. Other carriers also have had long runs that have raised concerns about morale. The USS Gerald R. Ford returned home in mid-May after an 11-month deployment, the longest since the Vietnam War, that had it support the U.S. war with Iran and the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. During its deployment, the Ford experienced a fire in a laundry space that forced the carrier to turn around and return to the Mediterranean Sea for repairs and left hundreds of sailors without places to sleep. Concerns about the demands of battle and the dangers of overextending ships and their crew predate the Iran war, with a number of mishaps on ships battling Houthi rebels in Yemen in 2024 and 2025, including the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman on a longer-than-expected deployment.

President Donald Trump on Friday dismissed concerns from families of service members about the grim conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, whose deployment had been overextended in the Middle East due to the Iran war. In interviews with NBC News and other outlets, family members of some of the thousands of people aboard the ship have described a lack of supplies and food and an overall deteriorating mental health situation with multiple sailors having attempted to jump overboard. NBC News asked Trump, who was speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews, whether the deployments have gone on for too long and whether he’s worried about troops’ mental health. “No. No. No — not nearly long enough,” Trump said. Danielle Rappa, whose son has been deployed on the ship, told NBC News that the situation was like a “scene out of the ‘American Horror Story,’ where ... everybody’s dead, but they don’t know it yet.” She said that she had noticed a change in his mood as his deployment dragged on. “Where he had been very positive, he started getting very dark,” she said. Trump also told reporters Friday that the Lincoln is “moving right now or very shortly” and that “it’s being replaced with another very similar ship.” The USS George Washington is expected to replace the Lincoln in the Middle East, a U.S. official told NBC News. Melanie Stowe, whose daughter is serving aboard the Lincoln, said that the “deployment date keeps getting moved up, and then it gets moved back, and it gets moved up.” Both Stowe and Rappa said their children have told them about a fellow sailor jumping overboard. A U.S. official said Thursday that a sailor assigned to the Lincoln’s air wing went overboard in early August and was quickly rescued and treated. That sailor was transferred off the ship for further medical care, the official said. U.S. military leaders have been privately raising concerns inside the Pentagon and the White House about low morale and widespread fatigue among American service members who’ve been deployed for months to support the war with Iran, two U.S. officials said. More than 50,000 troops have been deployed to support the U.S.- and Israel-led war with Iran. A typical deployment for a carrier is roughly six to seven months and includes regular stops at ports to refresh and replenish food supplies. Aboard the Lincoln, the circumstances for the 5,000 sailors and Marines have become particularly troubling, according to U.S. officials. The last port visit was in Guam in December — the vessel has been at sea for 244 consecutive days. Fewer stops at ports have led to a limited amount of supplies and fresh food on the ships, and service members and their families have pointed to these worsening living conditions aboard the Lincoln. A U.S. official said Thursday that the “Lincoln is operating in a highly contested environment where traditional supply hubs in the Middle East were disrupted by combat actions. In response, leadership prioritized mission-critical supplies: first food, then hygiene items, then mail. Current reports from the ship confirm continuous access to clean water, functional AC and healthy meal options.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters Thursday that the reports are being “completely misrepresented.” “We make sure that every ship, every crew, every captain has everything we can provide them at every single moment,” he said aboard the USS Gridley in Panama. “Some deployments are longer than others, and I have more respect and gratitude for those sailors than anybody.” It could take several weeks for the replacement of the Lincoln by the George Washington to be complete. It will likely take at least two weeks for the Lincoln to return to its home base of San Diego. Several Democratic lawmakers are demanding that the Trump administration provide answers about these extended deployments. In a letter Wednesday to Hegseth and acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said reports about the conditions aboard the Lincoln “warrant immediate attention” and raise the question of “whether the Navy can sustain the operational tempo now being demanded of its carrier force.” Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., a Marine Corps veteran who served in the Iraq War, said on X that the Navy must allow a bipartisan congressional delegation to visit the aircraft carrier “to conduct oversight investigation into this horrible situation.”

File - April 19, 2026, Arabian Sea, International Waters: The U.S. Navy Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln takes part in the operation to blockade ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz under orders from U.S. President Donald Trump, A - Europa Press/Contacto/US Navy/U.S. Navy - File MADRID Aug 16 (EUROPA PRESS) - The U.S. Army's Central Command has said that the crew of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln is not suffering a collective psychological crisis, contrary to what families of exhausted sailors near their long deployment in the Persian Gulf have been alleging for weeks. The aircraft carrier has now been at sea for more than 200 days. It left the port of San Diego in November of last year bound for the Pacific until it was diverted to the gulf as part of the military operation against Iran in late February. Specialized portals such as 'Military Times' have reported shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, safety problems on deck, and interruptions in the mail system. One sailor even jumped overboard, according to a family member. Military sources told ABC News that, indeed, a sailor fell overboard from the Lincoln in early August and was quickly rescued. The incident is under investigation. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has asserted that recent reports are a 'distortion' of reality, but he has nonetheless launched plans to deploy a relief aircraft carrier (according to ABC News, the George Washington, currently deployed in the Pacific). U.S. President Donald Trump did little to calm tensions: last Friday he said the Lincoln had not been deployed for 'even remotely enough time.' Now, CENTCOM chief Admiral Brad Cooper has defended that 'while the situation aboard the Lincoln is not perfect' out of all eleven active aircraft carriers, the ship from the Navy records 'the lowest number of mental health-related cases,' according to a statement released after his visit to the carrier yesterday. "For a long time I have believed that mental health is another aspect of overall health and requires our attention just as physical and spiritual health do. I applaud Lincoln's leadership for stepping forward and making the crew's mental health a leadership priority," he added before confirming his soon 'return home'.

Sen. Ruben Gallego on handling of USS Lincoln conditions: 'That's not proper leadership' Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona is calling for greater oversight of conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, saying he has heard reports of long hours, limited food and mounting stress among sailors. Gallego, a Marine veteran who deployed to Iraq, said in an interview with Morning Edition that he has been in contact with the spouse of an experienced sailor aboard the carrier, who described deteriorating morale and difficult working conditions. The Lincoln has been at sea for more than 260 consecutive days, a record. The carrier, with more than 5,000 sailors, has been supporting U.S. and Israeli operations in the war against Iran. Steve Walsh of member station WHRO reports the war has complicated resupply efforts after Iran attacked the Navy's main regional hub in Bahrain. Democratic lawmakers are now calling for the Pentagon to investigate reports of food shortages, broken toilets and inadequate mental health care aboard the Lincoln. The Navy says it has seen no increase in suicidal ideation or suicide attempts aboard the ship. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has also pushed back on reports of poor conditions. Gallego is among lawmakers seeking to visit the carrier. "They're just kind of winging it right now," he said, criticizing the Trump administration's planning. Regarding the Pentagon's handling of the deployment itself, Gallego added: "That's not proper leadership." Listen to the full interview by clicking the play button above. If you or someone you know may be considering suicide or is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The digital version was edited by Treye Green.

New aircraft carrier heads toward Mideast after reports of issues on long-deployed USS Lincoln WASHINGTON — The Pacific-based aircraft carrier USS George Washington has begun heading toward the Middle East as reports have emerged of mental health and supply issues aboard the long-deployed USS Abraham Lincoln. The Lincoln has been supporting the U.S. war against Iran, and its deployment has included a record-setting uninterrupted time at sea of more than 260 days. Several Democratic lawmakers are pressing for accountability from the Pentagon over conditions aboard the carrier, which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday said were "completely misrepresented." Extended deployments of carriers during the Iran conflict have raised concerns about the impact on service members who are away from home for long periods as well as the increasing strain on the ship and its equipment. While renewed hostilities between the U.S. and Iran have calmed in recent weeks, the Navy has reimposed a blockade on Iranian ports in the crucial Strait of Hormuz, and the Trump administration has offered no clarity on how it intends to wind down the war. Hegseth told reporters that the U.S. can maintain the blockade "indefinitely." A new aircraft carrier is heading west from the Asia-Pacific The USS George Washington left port in Da Nang, Vietnam, last week, a Navy statement said. The carrier, along with a cruiser and a destroyer, have since been spotted crossing the Singapore Strait. A Navy official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to detail sensitive ship details, confirmed that the Washington was in the Strait of Malacca, which links the Pacific and Indian oceans and puts the carrier on a course to head into the Indian Ocean. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier that the Washington would replace the Lincoln as one of the two aircraft carriers now stationed in the Middle East. The move would leave the waters of the Pacific without a U.S. carrier presence for an unknown period of time. The Trump administration sees China, the dominant power in the region, as "a settled force" that only needs to be deterred from dominating the U.S. or its allies and not the top global adversary that it was under the Biden administration. The Lincoln originally deployed Nov. 21 from San Diego, and it arrived in the Middle East in January, ahead of the launch of the Iran war on Feb. 28. The Navy conceded that the conflict created a "highly contested environment where traditional supply hubs in the Middle East were disrupted by combat actions." That, in turn, led to shortages and loss of mail aboard the aircraft carrier, the Navy said in a statement. "Leadership prioritized mission-critical supplies: first food, then hygiene items, then mail," the statement said, before assuring that sailors aboard the ship now have access to clean water and "healthy meal options." Democrats call for scrutiny, while the Pentagon defends conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln Democratic lawmakers are calling for investigations, more information and greater visibility into conditions aboard the ship, which was originally set to return home in May. "The Lincoln's prolonged deployment is especially significant because it is occurring in the context of continuing military operations against Iran and the possibility that substantial US naval forces will be required in the region for an extended period," Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, wrote in a letter to Navy leadership asking for a response to several questions. Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego, a Marine Corps veteran, said on social media that he is looking to take a bipartisan delegation on an official oversight visit to the ship and that the way sailors are being treated is "not just disgusting; it's dangerous." Hegseth told reporters during a visit to Panama that he wants the Lincoln's sailors home and crews rotated as quickly as possible but pushed back against reports of problems aboard. "We make sure that every ship, every crew, every captain has everything we can provide them at every single moment. Some deployments are longer than others, and I have more respect and gratitude for those sailors than anybody. What they do in those high seas in those austere conditions with less port calls — it's incredible." Navy leaders, including acting Secretary Hung Cao, last week held a tense town hall for families of troops aboard the USS Lincoln, at which the commanders of the Navy's air and surface forces promised to do everything they could to relieve the aircraft carrier. MS NOW reported earlier on the meeting. When reports of food shortages aboard the ship first surfaced in April, the Navy pushed back, calling those reports "false." Reports of mental health concerns and more aboard the ship Reports have since emerged that sailors on the Lincoln are struggling with mental health concerns. The Navy said in its statement that it has "not observed an increase in suicidal ideations or attempts aboard the ship," but officials declined to provide data, citing operational security and patient privacy concerns. The Navy official said that a sailor aboard the Lincoln went overboard in early August but that the person was quickly recovered, treated by the ship's medical department and transferred off ship for follow-on care. The official would not say if it was being considered a suicide attempt. U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, pushed back on reports about poor conditions. "The Sailors and Marines of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group remain resilient and resolved after more than 260 days at sea, 10,000 aircraft flights, and 1.5 million pounds of ordnance expended," the command said on social media. Other carriers also have had long runs that have raised concerns about morale. The USS Gerald R. Ford returned home in mid-May after an 11-month deployment, the longest since the Vietnam War, during which it supported the U.S. war with Iran and the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. During its deployment, the Ford experienced a fire in a laundry space that forced the carrier to turn around and return to the Mediterranean Sea for repairs and left hundreds of sailors without places to sleep. Concerns about the demands of battle and the dangers of overextending ships and their crew predate the Iran war, with a number of mishaps on ships battling Houthi rebels in Yemen in 2024 and 2025, including the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman on a longer-than-expected deployment.

Families of USS Lincoln crew say Trump should be 'ashamed' of conditions on board WASHINGTON — Families of sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln are condemning President Trump's comments on the ship's record deployment. A U.S. defense official not authorized to speak publicly told NPR the USS George Washington is en route to relieve the USS Lincoln, which has been at sea for nearly nine months Trump was asked by reporters Friday whether the USS Lincoln's deployment had gone on too long. "No, not nearly long enough," Trump said. His comments come amid reports of food shortages, plumbing problems and declining mental health among crew members. There have even been some reports – which NPR has not been able to independently confirm – that sailors have attempted to jump overboard. Karen Bramlett's grandson is on the ship. She asked NPR not to use his name for fears he could face repercussions or harassment from the military. Bramlett said she is able to communicate with her grandson via Instagram about once a week. "He's saying he's good mentally and physically, thank God," Bramlett said. "But he's just depressed. With the conditions over there you really can't blame him." Bramlett said her grandson enlisted in the Navy about two years ago. She said it was a dream for him. "But now he's like, he just can't wait to be done," Bramlett said. "Those dreams have been shattered." "Donald Trump needs to be ashamed of himself to let them suffer the way that they're doing," she continued. "They're over there fighting for our country. And this is the thanks they get? They can't even get help from him or his administration." Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Chao said in a statement Friday that the USS Lincoln's mission was extended because the conflict with Iran demanded it. "It is also true— a small number of mental health cases were treated with no loss of life," Cao said. "Meal plans were adjusted when fresh resupply was unavailable, without a single meal being missed. Calls home were limited when the operational threat was too high." Cao said those aboard the USS Lincoln are the "epitome of American strength and resilience." "There is no question our young men and women have been pushed to their limits—but they have never broken," Cao said. "They are rightly tired—but have never been out of the fight." Democrats demand investigation Democrats are calling for the Pentagon to investigate and take accountability over the conditions. Speaking to NPR's Morning Edition Friday, Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) accused the Trump administration of not having a plan. "They're just kind of winging it right now," he said, adding he felt that the Pentagon's handling of the deployment itself was "not proper leadership." Gallego also said he had spoken to some of the crew aboard the ship. "We are able to talk to a lot of these sailors," Gallego said. "We are able to talk to their spouses. And this is why I think it's important they allow us a bipartisan group of members of the House and the Senate to go and visit these sailors - something that has happened before - to make sure that we know that they're doing well and that the secretary of defense is not lying to us." Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said media reports about the conditions on the ship are "misrepresented" and said the U.S. can indefinitely maintain a naval blockade on Iran. Speaking to NPR's All Things Considered, Julie Roland, a former Navy helicopter pilot, said there needs to be care given to the roughly 5,000 sailors returning to the U.S. from the USS Lincoln. "I don't think anybody wants to be stuck in their office for 200 days without being able to see their friends or family no matter how good your job is," Roland said. "Some people do really struggle with the mental health of just transitioning from life on board to coming back home. When they return, we have to embrace them and take care of whatever might be the residual effects of having gone through this."

National Reporting Needs Local Support Your local PBS station powers PBS News and keeps it free and accessible for everyone in your community. Close Popup PBS News By — Konstantin Toropin, Associated Press Konstantin Toropin, Associated Press By — Aamer Madhani, Associated Press Aamer Madhani, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-trump-says-uss-lincolns-deployment-was-not-nearly-long-enough WATCH: Trump says USS Lincoln's deployment was 'not nearly long enough' Politics Aug 14, 2026 3:17 PM EDT WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Friday downplayed the toll on American sailors enduring a record-setting deployment of nearly nine months on the USS Abraham Lincoln as concerns escalated about mental health and supply issues aboard the aircraft carrier supporting U.S. operations against Iran. In a brief exchange with reporters before flying to New York for an event to highlight falling violent crime rates across the U.S., Trump refuted that family members have raised concerns about the deployment's length and even said that the more than 260-day deployment is "not nearly long enough." Watch Trump's comments in the video player above. "That ship is moving right now, or very shortly, and it's being replaced with another very similar ship," Trump said when asked about the lengthy deployment. The Lincoln has been supporting the U.S. war against Iran, and several Democratic lawmakers, including Sens. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Ruben Gallego of Arizona, are pressing for accountability from the Pentagon over conditions aboard the carrier, which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday said were "completely misrepresented." Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., who served three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne Division and 75th Ranger Regiment before being elected, took to social media to criticize Trump's comments, saying on X that "President Trump does not care about our servicemembers or their families." Extended deployments of carriers during the Iran conflict have raised concerns about the impact on service members who are away from home for long periods as well as the increasing strain on the ship and its equipment. While hostilities between the U.S. and Iran have calmed in recent weeks, the Navy has reimposed a blockade on Iranian ports in the crucial Strait of Hormuz, and the Trump administration has offered no clarity on how it intends to wind down the war. Hegseth said that the U.S. military can maintain the blockage of Iranian ports "indefinitely." READ MORE: Iran war renews concerns about lasting toll of traumatic brain injuries to American troops Another aircraft carrier, the USS George Washington, left port in Da Nang, Vietnam, last week, and is expected to replace the USS Lincoln, one of two aircraft carriers currently deployed in the Middle East. After reports emerged that sailors on the Lincoln are struggling with mental health concerns, the Navy said it has "not observed an increase in suicidal ideations or attempts aboard the ship," though officials have declined to provide data, citing operational security and patient privacy concerns. A Navy official said that a sailor aboard the Lincoln went overboard in early August but that the person was quickly recovered, treated by the ship's medical department and transferred off ship for follow-on care. The official would not say whether it was being considered a suicide attempt. U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, has also pushed back on reports about poor conditions. _AP writer Michelle L. Price contributed to this report._ A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Related How a catering truck helped Trump secretly switch planes amid threat from Iran By Nick Schifrin, Eliot Barnhart Top adviser to Iran's Revolutionary Guard leader sits down for rare interview By Reza Sayah Iranian-backed Houthis kill 6 in attack on vessel, and other developments in the Mideast By Associated Press A deal with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz may require a compromise from Trump By Ben Finley, Matthew Lee, Associated Press Iran war renews concerns about lasting toll of traumatic brain injuries to American troops By Ben Finley, Lauran Neergaard, Associated Press Go Deeper donald trump news iran iran war u.s. navy By — Konstantin Toropin, Associated Press Konstantin Toropin, Associated Press By — Aamer Madhani, Associated Press Aamer Madhani, Associated Press Support Provided By: Learn more Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Full Episode Thursday, Aug 13 *

A U.S. service member's wife had a blunt response on Friday for PresidentDonald Trumpafter he dismissed reports of poor conditions on theUSS Abraham Lincoln, even as families expressed serious concerns about their loved ones. CNN anchorJake Tapperspoke with the unnamed woman, who shared that she could not identify herself over concerns for her husband's safety and career. Tapper asked what her reaction was to Trump's remarks after the president said he did not think the deployment was "long enough." Nearly 5,000 sailors and Marines have been deployed on the warship for nine months in the Arabian Sea during the Iran war. "Oh my God! I don't think theman thinks before he talks," she said. "Iwas really hoping thatat some point there would be aredemption. Try to redeemyourself at least a little bitwith everything that you do andeverything that you say.Havesome empathy.Take some accountability forwhat's going on with yourmilitary, your ships, and yourwar. It'sinfuriating." She slammed Defense SecretaryPete Hegsethand Trump for their comments dismissing the reports of deteriorating conditions and low morale among the troops. "What thepresident is saying today,essentially saying thatfamilies are lying and servicemembers are lying, even thoughthe proof is right here on myphone, it is not fabricated," she said. "Nobody is lying." She criticized the Trump administration for not showing sympathy for service members "that theyclaim to scream and shout thatthey support when it'spolitically sound forthem to use, 'support our troops,support our troops' until ourtroops need support. And nowsuddenly everyone's lying. Andit's a fabrication and it's amisrepresentation." "I would sobadly love to plaster myface and blow the whistle soloud on social media with myname and be like, 'this is real.We are real people. Those arereal people on that ship. Thisis actually happening.' Butunfortunately, I have to protectmy husband's career." All Rights Reserved View Non-AMP Version

Trump niega que condiciones de vida a bordo del portaaviones Lincoln sean preocupantes Washington (Estados Unidos) (AFP) – El presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, negó que haya preocupaciones sobre las condiciones de vida de la tripulación del portaaviones Abraham Lincoln, que lleva más de ocho meses desplegado, pero confirmó que el buque de guerra será reemplazado por otro. Primera modificación: Última modificación: El Abraham Lincoln zarpó de San Diego, California, en noviembre de 2025 para una misión en el Mar de China Meridional y fue redirigido a Oriente Medio antes de que Estados Unidos e Israel lanzaran la guerra contra Irán el 28 de febrero. Entre los detalles más inquietantes que surgieron de los relatos de las familias de los marineros estaba el hecho de que dos de ellos habían intentado arrojarse por la borda. "No, no están preocupadas", respondió Trump este viernes a una periodista que le preguntaba por las familias, algunas de las cuales habían expresado inquietudes a la prensa. El Lincoln "se está trasladando, o se trasladará muy pronto, y será reemplazado por un barco muy similar", el George Washington, declaró durante una rueda de prensa previa a un viaje al estado de Nueva York. Cuando se le preguntó si el despliegue no había sido demasiado largo, replicó: "No, no, no. Está lejos de haber sido demasiado largo". Congresistas opositores demócratas exigieron una explicación al secretario de Defensa, Pete Hegseth, el miércoles, quien afirmó que la situación había sido "exagerada". El ejército estadounidense informó que un marinero del Abraham Lincoln que cayó al mar el 3 de agosto fue rescatado. "Se atendió un pequeño número de casos de salud mental sin pérdida de vidas", dijo el secretario interino de la Armada, Hung Cao, en un comunicado. Además, culpó a los medios de comunicación de "intentar presentar a nuestros guerreros como víctimas". Según autoridades, el Abraham Lincoln cuenta con cinco capellanes, un psicólogo, un trabajador social, un "coordinador de prevención" y un perro "para apoyar la moral y el bienestar emocional de la tripulación". El tiempo del "Lincoln se amplió porque la misión lo exigía", dijo Cao. "Nuestro éxito depende de cómo nos adaptemos". © 2026 AFP

Iran war: Trump dismisses concerns over conditions on USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier There have been reports of sailors jumping overboard, raising questions about their mental health during the nine-month-long deployment President Donald Trump dismissed concerns on Friday over living conditions and the mental health of service members on a US aircraft carrier deployed against Iran, while confirming the ship would soon rotate out. Asked by reporters whether family members were worried about the situation on the USS Abraham Lincoln, Trump said “no, they’re not”. Trump also rejected the idea that the ship – now at sea for nine months – had been deployed for too long. “No, no, no, not nearly enough,” he said. The president confirmed reports that the ship was due to be swapped out with another aircraft carrier, as the United States remains locked in a stalemate with Iran over control of the Strait of Hormuz and the country’s nuclear programme. “That ship is moving right now or very shortly and it’s being replaced with another very similar ship,” Trump said. US media, including specialist military publications, have quoted multiple relatives of crew members saying living conditions have deteriorated on the Lincoln. There have also been reports of several suicide attempts.

A new carrier strike group is heading to the Middle East, as reports of supply and mental health issues grow aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, now in a record-setting stretch at sea. The Lincoln has been supporting the U.S. war against Iran and has now spent more than 260 straight days at sea without a port call. The carrier originally deployed from San Diego on Nov. 21 and arrived in the Middle East in January, before the war started on Feb. 28, according to The Associated Press. Download the Straight Arrow app today to get the stories that matter free from manipulation, bias or agenda.™ Point phone camera here Reports of strain aboard The extended deployment has raised concerns about the toll on sailors and the strain on the ship and its equipment. In recent months, there have been reports of food shortages, water and plumbing problems and mental health concerns on board. The Navy has acknowledged the war disrupted traditional supply hubs, leading to shortages, but says sailors now have access to clean water and healthy meal options. The USS George Washington is heading west after a port visit in Da Nang, Vietnam, and is expected to replace the Lincoln in the Middle East. Its departure could leave the Pacific without a U.S. aircraft carrier for an unknown period. Democrats want answers Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers are demanding answers from the Pentagon about conditions aboard the Lincoln, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says recent reports are “completely misrepresented.” California Rep. Mike Levin is among those who sent letters to Hegseth and Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao demanding an explanation. “I want to be clear that I don’t expect for an aircraft carrier to be the Holiday Inn, right? I don’t expect for it to be a luxury lifestyle,” Levin said. “Our Marines and our sailors, they are the best of the best. They sign up for hard duty. But we also should expect basic habitability. We should expect running water and clean drinking water, enough food to eat, working plumbing, the basics.” Connecticut’s Richard Blumenthal, the top Democrat on the Senate’s Armed Services Committee, also sent a letter to Hegseth and Cao on Wednesday, demanding answers about conditions on board the ship and how the Navy is supporting sailors’ mental health during the extended deployment. Hegseth, Navy push back Hegseth pushed back again Thursday in an interview with Newsmax, saying “some deployments are longer than others” and insisting the Pentagon makes sure every ship and crew has everything they need. “We make sure every ship, every crew, every captain has everything we can provide them at every single moment,” Hegseth said. “Some deployments are longer than others, and I have more respect and gratitude for those sailors than anybody.” And in a statement to ABC News, a Navy official said the Lincoln has not seen a recent rise in mental health issues and has “not identified an increase in reported suicidal ideation or suicide attempts aboard the ship.” It did, however, acknowledge that sailors are strained. “We know that extended deployments place a significant strain on our service members and their families, and we are grateful for the resilience and sacrifices they make in support of our nation’s security,” the statement said. Check out our three brand new premium newsletters! - Media Miss: Inside the algorithms and agendas shaping what you see - Confidential Informant: Your essential guide to privacy in a world under surveillance - Health(y) Discourse: Our health scientist provides the antidote to wellness hype

President Donald Trump downplayed this Friday the impact suffered by American sailors who have been almost nine months at sea aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, at a time when concerns about mental health and supply on this aircraft carrier supporting U.S. operations against Iran are growing. In a brief exchange with reporters before traveling to New York for an event aimed at highlighting the decline in violent crime nationwide, Trump denied that family members had expressed concern about the duration of the deployment; he even stated that the mission — which includes a record of more than 240 consecutive days at sea — “is not even close to long enough.” “That ship is moving right now, or it will very soon, and it will be replaced by another very similar one,” Trump said when asked about the prolonged stay. Interim Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao announced on Friday on social media that the Lincoln “will soon be home.” Trump began his second term promising to avoid long and costly military conflicts. However, after initiating the war against Iran together with Israel, both he and his advisers asserted that the conflict would last only a few weeks. The war has now stretched for more than five months. Nevertheless, on Friday, during his speech on crime in Garden City, New York, he acknowledged having used the U.S. armed forces “a little more than I wanted,” while reaffirming that the U.S. operation against Iran is progressing favorably. He even went so far as to say, apparently in a joking tone, that “very soon I will declare the Strait of Hormuz U.S. territory.” “I will never apologize,” added Trump about the war and its impact on oil prices. “I did the right thing.” Democrats demand Pentagon information on the USS Lincoln The prolonged missions of the aircraft carriers during the conflict with Iran have raised concerns about their impact on the service members — who stay far from home for long periods — and the wear and tear on ships and their equipment. Several Democratic lawmakers, including Senators Richard Blumenthal (Connecticut) and Ruben Gallego (Arizona), are calling for explanations from the Pentagon about the Lincoln’s on-board conditions; on Thursday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed that those conditions had been “completely distorted.” Representative Jason Crow (Democrat from Colorado) — who completed three deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne and the 75th Ranger Regiment before being elected to office — used social media to criticize Trump’s remarks, posting on X that “President Trump doesn’t care about our military or their families.” Top Democrats on the House Oversight Committee have requested a classified briefing on on-board food supplies, hygiene conditions, and medical care availability on the ship, as well as an assessment of how much longer it will remain deployed before relief arrives. Republicans have been less forthcoming about commenting on the Lincoln situation. Republican leaders of the House Armed Services Committee and the Senate did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Although hostilities between the United States and Iran have cooled in recent weeks, the Navy has rerun a blockade of Iranian ports in the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz, and the Trump administration has not clarified how it intends to end the confrontation. Hegseth said U.S. forces can maintain the blockade of Iranian ports “indefinitely.” Another carrier, the USS George Washington, departed last week from Da Nang port (Vietnam) and is expected to relieve the USS Lincoln, one of the two carriers currently deployed in the Middle East. Following reports that Lincoln sailors faced mental health issues, the Navy stated that it “has not observed an increase in suicidal thoughts or attempts aboard the ship,” though officials declined to release data, citing operational security and patient privacy concerns. A Navy official said that, in early August, a sailor fell overboard from the Lincoln but was quickly rescued, treated by the ship’s medical service, and moved off the vessel for further care. The official declined to specify whether the incident was considered an attempted suicide. The U.S. Central Command, responsible for military operations in the Middle East, has also rebutted reports of poor conditions aboard. ______ AP reporters Collin Binkley, from Garden City, New York, and Michelle L. Price and Lisa Mascaro, from Washington, contributed to this report. This article was originally published in English on NBC 7 San Diego. Click here to read it.

Donald Trump had a stunningly dismissive message for the families of sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln who have raised alarms about their loved ones’ deteriorating conditions. After almost nine months at sea, the plight of service members on the carrier has become more grim, with claims of multiple sailors attempting to go overboard and reports of broken toilets, moldy showers and inadequate food. But asked on Friday whether family members were concerned about conditions on the ship, Trump replied, “No, they’re not.” Then came the question of whether the deployment had gone on too long given the mental health risks. “No, no, no. Not nearly long enough,” he said, before walking off to board Air Force One on a trip to New York. The dismissive response came as the Lincoln finds itself at the center of a growing political storm over the human cost of the Trump administration’s war with Iran. About 200 relatives attended a town hall last week with Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao and other senior military officials, raising concerns about exhaustion, mental health, food and water shortages, plumbing problems, sanitation and disrupted mail. A pair of military outlets—the Stars and Stripes and the Navy Times—report that several sailors have attempted to go overboard or have gone overboard on the Lincoln, with one sailor reportedly in the water for an hour before being rescued. Loved ones shared texts with MeidasTouch claiming the ship can’t get any fresh food, and that even some once-frozen meat arrives rotten. A sailor’s family member also told MS NOW that their loved one has been eating “half a cup of rice and two tortillas” a day. Family members have also described out-of-service toilets and laundry rooms that have been inaccessible for weeks. The carrier has been at sea for eight-and-a-half months, much longer than the typical deployment of about six months. But Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has brushed off the reports as “misrepresented,” while the Navy disputes some of the most serious allegations, saying it has not seen an increase in suicidal ideation and that mental-health resources remain available. “We make sure every ship, every crew, every captain has everything we can provide them at every single moment,“ Hegseth told reporters during a visit to Panama. “Some deployments are longer than others, and I have more respect and gratitude for those sailors than anybody. What they do in those high seas in those austere conditions with less port calls—it’s incredible." Trump on Friday also appeared to confirm reports that the Lincoln was now being relieved of duty by the carrier USS George Washington. “That ship is moving right now, or very shortly, and it’s being replaced with another very similar ship,” he told reporters. A few hours later, as the backlash continued, Cao declared the Lincoln had completed its mission and “will return home soon as part of a planned rotation.” The acting navy secretary also appeared to take a veiled swipe at families who spoke out and other critics, saying in a statement that “deployments are hard” and “sailors and marines are expected to dig deep.” He also accused the media of “trying to paint our warriors as victims.” “There is no question our young men and women have been pushed to their limits—but they have never broken,” he posted on X. “They are rightly tired—but have never been out of the fight.” Meanwhile, Democrats are demanding answers. “These reports warrant immediate attention,” said Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal in a letter to Hegseth and Cao. “But they also raise a broader question: whether the Navy can sustain the operational tempo now being demanded of its carrier force, particularly as this Administration repeatedly commits U.S. forces to conflicts of its own choosing and increasingly relies on aircraft carriers to sustain those operations.”

Democrats on Sunday intensified their demands for answers from the Trump administration over conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln as the aircraft carrier’s nearly nine-month deployment continued fueling concern over crew morale, mental health and living conditions. Ruben Gallego, a Democratic senator from Arizona, said on Sunday that problems aboard the Lincoln had kept mounting – and he blamed the carrier’s prolonged deployment on the unresolved war that Donald Trump started in February with Iran as well as lackluster leadership in general from the Republican president’s administration. “I was just speaking to a [Lincoln crew member’s] spouse just about three days ago, and this is the current problem right now,” Gallego said on ABC News’s This Week. “The deep, deep, deep problem here is that this administration did not plan for this war, did not plan how to get out of this war, [and] did not really understand how this war was going to escalate.” Gallego, a retired US marine, also warned that comments from defense secretary Pete Hegseth and Trump dismissing Lincoln concerns could discourage service members from staying in the military. Those remarks from Gallego came amid growing scrutiny over the Lincoln’s extended mission in the Middle East. The navy aircraft carrier has been at sea for nearly nine months and has gone more than 200 days without a port call. That has prompted Democratic lawmakers to call for an investigation into conditions aboard the carrier, citing reports of low morale among its 5,000 navy sailors and marines as they endure a record-breaking deployment at sea. Hegseth has rejected those reports as “completely misrepresented”. Trump, meanwhile, has minimized the duration of the deployment, saying it is “not nearly long enough”. The Navy Times and Stars and Stripes, two leading publications specializing in the US military, have reported multiple attempts by sailors to jump overboard as poor conditions and mental stresses aboard the Lincoln reach a breaking point during its ninth months at sea. The carrier has been supporting the US war against Iran. And several Democratic lawmakers are pressing the Pentagon to take accountability for conditions facing its crew. Wes Moore, Maryland’s Democratic governor and a military veteran, on Sunday also sharply criticized Trump’s response to concerns about the mental health and living conditions of those aboard the Lincoln. Appearing on CNN’s State of the Union, Moore said: “The response of the president of United States pisses me off. And it should piss all of us off.” Moore continued by alluding to the fact that Trump did not serve in the US military beside becoming its commander-in-chief during his two presidencies. “I would have hoped that, since he’s never been forward deployed, since he’s never put on the uniform and sacrificed for this country, that he would have more compassion for the people who are willing to, that he would have more compassion for their family members who are willing to offer their loved ones to this country because they love this country so much,” Moore said. Moore added that “nobody understands” the Iran war, which “all of us are paying for”. The Lincoln recently received a visit from the US Central Command commander Adm Brad Cooper, who said in a statement on Saturday that its crew “is a strong team of high-achieving Americans standing tall with immense, justified pride in everything they accomplished”. “History will record this deployment as one of the most operationally intense and consequential of the modern era,” Cooper’s statement added. Cooper – who oversees the war with Iran – made the visit during a 10-day trip that also took him to Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, his statement said. That statement came one day after Trump downplayed concerns about what the Lincoln crew was enduring during its record-setting deployment. “That ship is moving right now, or very shortly, and it’s being replaced with another very similar ship,” Trump said when questioned about the lengthy deployment. Asked whether family members were worried about the situation, Trump responded: “No, they’re not.” The Guardian on Sunday reported on naval families who denounced Trump and Hegseth for dismissing their loved ones’ experiences, including aboard the Lincoln. Retired Adm Mike Mullen, a former chair of the joint chiefs of staff, pushed back on Trump’s comments during his own appearance on Sunday on This Week, saying such lengthy deployments take a toll on crews. Mullen said he spoke with Cooper on Saturday evening and was told that poor conditions aboard the Lincoln had been addressed. He also said morale among the crew improved after Cooper told the sailors they would be going home. An exact date for the Lincoln’s return has not been announced.

byFilip Timotija08/14/26 01:58 PM ET President Trump on Friday disputed the idea that family members of sailors and troops aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln are concerned about the conditions on the aircraft carrier as scrutiny over the issue has intensified in recent days. “No, they’re not,” the president told reporters when asked about the news reports that have shed light on the deteriorating conditions on the Lincoln, one of the two U.S. aircraft carriers in the Middle East. “That ship is moving right now, or very shortly and is being replaced with another very similar ship,” Trump added, confirming that the U.S. issending a new aircraft carrier, the USS George Washington, to the Middle East to replace the USS Lincoln. The USS Lincoln deployed from San Diego in November and has been at sea uninterrupted for more than 240 days. When asked if the ship’s deployment has gone on for too long, the president said, “No. Not nearly long enough.” There are about 5,000 sailors and Marines on the Lincoln, whose deployment, which started Nov. 21, has been extended in support of the U.S. war against Iran. The Pentagon has dispatched the USS George Washington, which was spotted Thursday crossing the Strait of Malacca, to the region. News reports about poor conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, including worsening mental health of sailors on board and supply challenges,prompted Democratic lawmakersto call for an investigation into the state of the aircraft carrier. Others pressed the U.S. Navy to allow a bipartisan congressional visit to the vessel to inspect the conditions themselves following reports that somesailors have attempted to jump overboard. Navy officials denied any increase in suicide attempts on the vessels. “The Lincoln is not an isolated case. Recent carrier deployments have repeatedly stretched beyond their original anticipated durations, suggesting that extended deployments may be becoming a feature rather than an exception of the Navy’s force-generation model,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, wrote in a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao. On Thursday, Hegseth said conditions aboard USS Lincoln have been “completely misrepresented.” “Listen, we make sure that every ship, every crew, every captain has everything we can provide them at every single moment,” Hegseth said during his visit to Panama. “Some deployments are longer than others, and I have more respect and gratitude for those sailors than anybody. What they do in those high seas and those austere conditions with less port calls, it’s incredible.”

byFilip Timotija08/14/26 04:06 PM ET Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao announced on Friday that the USS Abraham Lincoln is returning to the U.S. as the aircraft carrier’s long deployment has come under scrutiny over reported harsh conditions the sailors onboard have worked under. “The USS Abraham Lincoln crushed their deployment and will return home soon as part of a planned rotation. Details will come but let me be clear: the safety and security of our Sailors and Marines always comes first,” Cao said in astatement. “Mission accomplishment. Troop Welfare. This is how we lead.” Cao said that Lincoln’s deployment, which has stretched for over 260 days since departing San Diego in November, was extended because the mission “demanded it,” acknowledging that deployments are “hard,” combat operations make them “harder,” and that war is “hell,” therefore “normal routines are disrupted.” “One of the hardest aspects about warfighting beyond knowingly placing our service members in harm’s way is that even with the best planning and communication, change and uncertainty will always be in play,” Cao, who became the acting secretary in April following the ouster of Navy Secretary John Phelan, said. “Our success depends on how we adapt.” “Sailors and Marines are expected to dig deep—and they always do. A leader’s responsibility is to take care of their people the best they can while balancing mission requirements,” the acting Navy secretary wrote. “During this deployment we have seen both: the job is getting done and our leaders are taking care of their people.” Cao’s lengthy statement comes as news outlets reported on the poor conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, including supply challenges, dwindling mental health of some sailors, rotten food and moldy showers, prompting Democrats in Congress to call for an investigation into the state of the Lincoln, one of the two aircraft carriers in the U.S. Central Command (Centcom) theater. Cao claimed that media outlets are trying to paint “our warriors as victims.” “Not only is that dishonest but it takes away the focus on the enemy and the threat it poses against our nation, people and way of life,” he said. The acting Navy secretary said the Lincoln, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, has spent 200 days in the war zone, completed over 10,000 sorties and it dropped about 1.5 million lbs. of ordnance, adding the retention rates on the vessel are “amongst the highest of all carriers.” But Cao also acknowledged that a “small” number of mental health cases were treated without a  loss of life, adding that meal plans were “adjusted when fresh resupply was unavailable, without a single meal being missed” and that sailors’ calls home were limited when the “operational threat was too high.” Other Democratic lawmakers pressed the Navy to permit a bipartisan congressional visit to the Lincoln to inspect the conditions of the vessel amid reports that some sailors attempted to jump off the aircraft carrier. Last week, Cao and Vice Adm. Douglas Verissimo, head of the Naval Air Forces; and Vice Adm. Joseph Cahill, commander of the Naval Surface Forces,met with family membersof sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier as the moral abroad the ship vanes. The Pentagon sent the USS George Washington, which was spotted crossing the Strait of Malacca on Thursday, to replace the Lincoln, which has been backing U.S. forces during its war against Iran. There are about 5,000 sailors and Marines on the Lincoln. President Trumpdisputed the idea thatfamily members of sailors and troops aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln are concerned about the conditions on the vessel. “No, they’re not,” the president told reporters. When asked if the Lincoln’s deployment has gone on for too long, Trump said, “No. Not nearly long enough.” Likewise, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday that conditions aboard the aircraft carrier have been “completely misrepresented.” “Listen, we make sure that every ship, every crew, every captain has everything we can provide them at every single moment,” the Pentagon chief said during his visit to Panama. “Some deployments are longer than others, and I have more respect and gratitude for those sailors than anybody. What they do in those high seas and those austere conditions with less port calls, it’s incredible.” The acting Navy secretary said there is “no question our young men and women have been pushed to their limits—but they have never broken.” “They are rightly tired—but have never been out of the fight. However, it is clear, knowing the whole story, our force and their families are not victims,” Cao said. “They are the epitome of American strength and resilience.” “So, when the USS Abraham Lincoln pulls into the pier, join me and stand proudly with a grateful heart and give our Sailors and Marines the Hero’s Welcome they deserve,” he said.

The wife of a sailor aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln has blasted President Donald Trump over what she called “appalling” conditions on the aircraft carrier stationed in the Middle East. The woman, who was not identified due to fear of retaliation against her husband, likened the USS Lincoln to a “floating metal prison” in an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper Friday. “This is not his first deployment. This is not his first time being out there, and he is saying that it is the worst deployment that he's ever been on. And he also says that his shipmates say the same,” the wife said. The USS Lincoln, which had been deployed for months amid Trump’s war with Iran, has been at the center of controversy this week, following reports of poor maintenance, food supply issues and sailors struggling with their mental health on the aircraft carrier. One report by the Military Times on Tuesday said that several sailors on the USS Lincoln attempted to jump overboard. The military wife told Tapper that the food on the USS Lincoln had been especially bad, just hours after Trump claimed no families were worried about the conditions on the ship. “It's not just the quality; it's the quantity. It's the rationing. The portions are awful, so it's really not good,” she said. The woman also noted that her husband, who she said typically isn’t affected by work stressors off the clock, “feels himself being angrier and more frustrated.” “You're stuck in a floating metal prison, essentially, in the middle of the water, eating prison-like food with the same people in the same bunk beds in the same small quarters for 200 days, 250 days, you start to go a little insane working 12 hours, getting four or five hours of sleep,” the woman said as she struggled to imagine what her husband has truly gone through. Trump had pushed back earlier on Friday, telling reporters that family members of USS Lincoln sailors are not concerned about its conditions and that the more than 200-day deployment has not gone on “nearly long enough.” “I don't think the man thinks before he talks,” the sailor’s wife told Tapper in reaction to Trump’s comments. “Have some sympathy, some empathy. Take some accountability for what's going on with your military, your ships, in your war. It's infuriating.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called reports about poor conditions on the USS Lincoln “completely misrepresented.” "We make sure every ship, every crew, every captain has everything we can provide them at every single moment. Some deployments are longer than others, and I have more respect and gratitude for those sailors than anybody," Hegseth told reporters. The sailor’s wife told Tapper the Trump administration is “essentially saying that families are lying and service members are lying.” “It is not fabricated. Nobody is lying,” she added. Hung Cao, the acting secretary of the Navy, wrote in a statement Friday that the USS Lincoln “crushed their deployment and will return home soon as part of a planned rotation.” Reports say that the USS George Washington aircraft carrier will replace the ship. Cao said that sailors had to spend 266 days at sea “because the mission demanded it." “Deployments are hard. Combat operations make them harder. War is hell and normal routines are disrupted,” he added. Cao admitted that there were a “small number of mental health cases,” but that no one had died. “Meal plans were adjusted when fresh resupply was unavailable, without a single meal being missed,” he said, adding that sailors' calls to their loved ones “were limited when the operational threat was too high.” Cao accused the media of “trying to paint our warriors as victims,” adding, “There is no question our young men and women have been pushed to their limits—but they have never broken.”

The wife of a sailor aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln has blasted President Donald Trump over what she called “appalling” conditions on the aircraft carrier stationed in the Middle East. The woman, who was not identified due to fear of retaliation against her husband, likened the USS Lincoln to a “floating metal prison” in an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper Friday. “This is not his first deployment. This is not his first time being out there, and he is saying that it is the worst deployment that he's ever been on. And he also says that his shipmates say the same,” the wife said. The USS Lincoln, which had been deployed for months amid Trump’s war with Iran, has been at the center of controversy this week, following reports of poor maintenance, food supply issues and sailors struggling with their mental health on the aircraft carrier. One report by the Military Times on Tuesday said that several sailors on the USS Lincoln attempted to jump overboard. The military wife told Tapper that the food on the USS Lincoln had been especially bad, just hours after Trump claimed no families were worried about the conditions on the ship. “It's not just the quality; it's the quantity. It's the rationing. The portions are awful, so it's really not good,” she said. The woman also noted that her husband, who she said typically isn’t affected by work stressors off the clock, “feels himself being angrier and more frustrated.” “You're stuck in a floating metal prison, essentially, in the middle of the water, eating prison-like food with the same people in the same bunk beds in the same small quarters for 200 days, 250 days, you start to go a little insane working 12 hours, getting four or five hours of sleep,” the woman said as she struggled to imagine what her husband has truly gone through. Trump had pushed back earlier on Friday, telling reporters that family members of USS Lincoln sailors are not concerned about its conditions and that the more than 200-day deployment has not gone on “nearly long enough.” “I don't think the man thinks before he talks,” the sailor’s wife told Tapper in reaction to Trump’s comments. “Have some sympathy, some empathy. Take some accountability for what's going on with your military, your ships, in your war. It's infuriating.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called reports about poor conditions on the USS Lincoln “completely misrepresented.” "We make sure every ship, every crew, every captain has everything we can provide them at every single moment. Some deployments are longer than others, and I have more respect and gratitude for those sailors than anybody," Hegseth told reporters. The sailor’s wife told Tapper the Trump administration is “essentially saying that families are lying and service members are lying.” “It is not fabricated. Nobody is lying,” she added. Hung Cao, the acting secretary of the Navy, wrote in a statement Friday that the USS Lincoln “crushed their deployment and will return home soon as part of a planned rotation.” Reports say that the USS George Washington aircraft carrier will replace the ship. Cao said that sailors had to spend 266 days at sea “because the mission demanded it." “Deployments are hard. Combat operations make them harder. War is hell and normal routines are disrupted,” he added. Cao admitted that there were a “small number of mental health cases,” but that no one had died. “Meal plans were adjusted when fresh resupply was unavailable, without a single meal being missed,” he said, adding that sailors' calls to their loved ones “were limited when the operational threat was too high.” Cao accused the media of “trying to paint our warriors as victims,” adding, “There is no question our young men and women have been pushed to their limits—but they have never broken.”

Supported by Trump Dismisses Reports About Dire Conditions Aboard U.S. Aircraft Carrier Asked whether the deployment of the Abraham Lincoln had gone on too long, the president said its deployment had lasted “not nearly long enough.” President Trump on Friday dismissed concerns about dire conditions reported aboard the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln, an aircraft carrier that has been deployed for more than eight and a half months, much of it in support of the war against Iran. Mr. Trump’s comments came in response to a reporter who asked about the reported conditions stemming from the extended deployment, which have included shortages of basic supplies, safety and hygiene issues and deteriorating mental health. When the reporter said that the crew members’ families were concerned, Mr. Trump said, “No, they’re not.” The president, who was about to depart the Washington area for an event in New York, was asked whether he was concerned about the crew’s mental health and whether he thought the deployment had gone on too long. “No. No. No,” he said. “Not nearly long enough.” He acknowledged, however, that the Navy would soon replace the vessel “with another very similar ship.” The Navy is sending the aircraft carrier George Washington to relieve the Lincoln, according to a U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity for lack of authorization to speak publicly about ship schedules. Mr. Trump’s remarks were the latest to downplay the consequences of his decision to attack Iran, causing a conflict that has lasted far longer than he initially promised and whose objectives and end have grown more and more elusive. Related Content Advertisement

Supported by Navy Carrier’s Problems Are Tied to Attacks on U.S. Base Early in War Diego Garcia, a tiny island 2,200 miles from the Gulf of Oman, took over as the Navy’s logistics hub after Iran damaged a base in Bahrain. The aircraft carrier U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln’s supply problems began soon after the first day of the war, as Iranian missiles and attack drones fell on a Navy base in Bahrain. The Iranian attack, retaliation for the U.S.-Israeli assault on Tehran, destroyed much of the base. And as it went up in smoke, so did a major logistics hub that the Navy has relied on for decades. The Navy needed a Plan B to continue feeding the sailors working around the clock to keep warplanes flying strike missions, and later to maintain a blockade of Iran’s ports. With the threat of Iranian attacks at other ports in the region, the Pentagon looked to a base under British command on the island of Diego Garcia as its supply hub, which is south of the Maldives and roughly 2,200 miles from where two aircraft carrier strike groups have been operating in the Gulf of Oman. The loss of the hub in Bahrain has contributed to a host of reported problems on carriers supporting operations against Iran, as Democratic senators raise concerns about the Lincoln’s 5,000 sailors and their nearly nine-month deployment. Senator Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut, said in a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that the reported problems included shortages of basic supplies and the deteriorating mental health of its crew members. Related Content Advertisement

Pete Hegseth responds to reports of food shortages aboard USS Abraham Lincoln Hegseth told reporters in Panama that reports about the ship had been 'completely misrepresented' US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has rejected reports of food shortages and worsening mental health aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has spent more than 200 days deployed at sea. The aircraft carrier was redirected to the Middle East to support US military operations involving Iran. Navy Times and Stars and Stripes have reported multiple attempts by sailors to jump overboard amid concerns about conditions and mental health. Hegseth told reporters in Panama that reports about the ship had been “completely misrepresented”. “We make sure every ship, every crew, every captain has everything we can provide them at every single moment,” Hegseth said. “Some deployments are longer than others, and I have more respect and gratitude for those sailors than anybody. What they do in those high seas in those austere conditions with less port calls – it’s incredible.” Democrats on the Senate Armed Services Committee have now asked Hegseth and acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao for information about conditions aboard the vessel. Senator Richard Blumenthal cited reports of “shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, plumbing issues, deteriorating mental health, deck safety concerns, and disruptions in the mail system”. The Lincoln has reportedly gone more than 200 days without a port call, setting a record for consecutive days at sea. - NATO fighters down drone over Latvia near Russian border - UK bans disposable barbecues as heatwave fuels wildfire fears - American Airlines flight makes emergency landing at LAX shortly after takeoff - Trump asks Supreme Court to let him build $400mn ballroom citing security threats - Luigi Mangione may plead guilty in federal case over UnitedHealthcare CEO killing - Piers Morgan hits back at Netanyahu after controversial remarks about UK - Boxer Prichard Colón dies at 33 years after illegal punch ended his career - United Airlines flight forced to abort takeoff at Chicago O'Hare after two tires blow - Trump’s AI policy sparks fierce debate as lawmakers clash over open-weight models - British Columbia weather alert: storms, heavy rain and dry lightning possible - Trump touts historic drop in US crime rates ahead of midterm elections - England wildfires devastation: Several properties destroyed as record heat sparks major incidents

Democracy Dies in Darkness At sea, sailors soon discover that anchoring their deployment to the date it ends is a losing strategy. Going home is always too far away. The better way to mark the time is with shorter-term milestones — mail calls, the next port visit. Yet the days afloat are long; making it through each one is usually the harder struggle. During my two-decade Navy career and years on sea duty, I set my daily clock to food and sleep — _chow-chow-chow-rack_. Every meal, every wake-up was a tick of the timer. Small routines served as assurances that things were on schedule. * What readers are saying The conversation explores the challenging conditions faced by the crew of the USS Abraham Lincoln during extended deployments, with many participants expressing frustration and criticism towards the leadership of President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Commenters... Show more This summary is AI-generated. AI can make mistakes and this summary is not a replacement for reading the comments. Comments 741 !pixel

The USS Abraham Lincoln has been at sea in the Middle East for months, and with no clear end in sight for the war in Iran, concerns for those aboard the aircraft carrier—and for the vessel itself—have mounted amid a series of troubling reports. Another aircraft carrier, the USS George Washington, had begun making its way towards the Middle East as of Thursday to replace the Lincoln, multiple news outlets reported. President Donald Trump appeared to confirm the reported ship swap on Friday, saying that the Lincoln "is moving right now, or very shortly and is being replaced with another very similar ship.” The Washington’s deployment comes as reports have emerged in recent months recounting worsening living conditions, mental health concerns, and supply shortages on board the Lincoln. Trump seemed to deny the reports on the state of the Lincoln and its crew on Friday, responding “No, they’re not,” in response to a reporter saying that families of the crew members are worried about conditions on board. He also said, when asked if the carrier has been deployed for too long, that it has been deployed “not nearly long enough.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegeseth on Thursday called the reports of dire conditions on the Lincoln “completely misrepresented.” “We make sure that every ship, every crew, every captain has everything we can provide them at every single moment. Some deployments are longer than others. I have more respect and gratitude for those sailors than anybody,” Hegseth, with a hand to his heart, told reporters. “I want them home as soon as everybody else, too.” The Defense Department did not immediately respond to TIME’s request for comment. Here’s what to know about the USS Abraham Lincoln, the concerns that have been raised over conditions on board, and the burgeoning calls for its crew to return home. What is the USS Abraham Lincoln, and how long has it been deployed? The Lincoln is in its ninth month at sea and has been deployed for more than 260 days. The vessel works as a mobile airbase and command center with its own defense systems. It’s the length of more than three football fields and has a crew of roughly 5,000 when fully deployed. It departed from San Diego in November on an alternate deployment, but was redirected towards the Middle East in January to provide tactical support to U.S. forces ahead of the war in Iran, which began with an initial wave of American-Israeli strikes at the end of February. The Lincoln has played a key defensive role in the war against Iran, having shot down “hundreds and hundreds of missiles” and drone attacks that targeted the vessel, according to Hegseth. “Every single one of those shots, easily shot down miles and miles away from the Abe Lincoln,” he said in April. “They were blowing ammo into fantasy land.” The ship has also had a part in enforcing the U.S.’s blockade of Iranian ports. The Lincoln’s deployment was expected to end in May, but was extended indefinitely. The reported ship swap with the Washington comes as Trump has reinstated a blockade against Iran in the Strait of Hormuz and peace talks have stalled between the countries. Reports of issues on board the carrier Several reports have detailed poor conditions aboard the Lincoln. According to MS Now, which interviewed a dozen family members of crew members, those aboard the ship have been dealing with moldy showers and running out of key toiletries, such as toothpaste, deodorant, and soap. The outlet was also told that crew members are working grueling shifts with limited days off and that there are holes on the Lincoln’s flight deck, where pilots take off and land. A spouse of a service member on the Lincoln also told CBS News that sailors had previously experienced food shortages. Another report from USA Today contained photos of rationed meals served to crew on board the carrier. Adm. Daryl Caudle, chief of naval operations, pushed back against reports of food shortages back in April. “In no way, shape or form, has there been a time where in, at least in this deployment, where they’ve not met the nutritional requirements of our menu,” Caudle said. As the deployment has stretched on and living conditions on board have allegedly deteriorated, the crew of the Lincoln has also reportedly struggled with increasing mental health concerns. The Navy Times and Stars and Stripes reported several instances of crew members on the vessel attempting to jump overboard. More than 200 families of crew members attended a meeting in San Diego last week with acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao. Many of the families raised a litany of concerns at a later virtual meeting, including about the crew’s mental health, safety, a lack of supplies and food, and water contamination, according to MS Now, which reviewed recordings of the meeting. Cao was unable to specify during the meeting when the crew on the Lincoln would return home, according to the outlet. The U.S. military has strongly pushed back against reporting about mental health concerns regarding the Lincoln’s crew. “We have not observed an increase in suicidal ideations or attempts aboard the ship,” a U.S. official tells TIME. “Adapting to life at sea can be difficult, so we've learned how to provide resources and help Sailors with these transitions. We are not experiencing an uptick in mental health issues aboard Abraham Lincoln.” The official says that “religious, medical and mental health professionals” are aboard the Lincoln, including five chaplains, a psychologist, a social worker, three "behavioral health technicians,” and a service dog “to support crew morale and emotional welfare.” The official did not provide information regarding the ongoing deployment of those aboard the Lincoln “due to operations security.” “The Sailors and Marines of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group remain resilient and resolved after more than 260 days at sea, 10,000 aircraft flights, and 1.5 million pounds of ordnance expended,” U.S. Central Command posted on X on Thursday. “No service members aboard the aircraft carrier have died, and the one Sailor who fell overboard Aug. 3 was quickly and safely recovered.” Democrats push for answers The reports about conditions on board the Lincoln have sparked calls from several Democrats urging the Defense Department to remedy the situation. In a letter to Hegseth and Cao, Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, noted that the vessel’s crew members have not been to a port in a record-setting 200-plus days and demanded answers to a series of questions about the crew and the state of the ship. “There have been widespread reports of shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, plumbing issues, deteriorating mental health, deck safety concerns, and disruptions in the mail system,” Blumenthal wrote. “These reports warrant immediate attention, but they also raise a broader question: whether the Navy can sustain the operational tempo now being demanded of its carrier force, particularly as this Administration repeatedly commits U.S. forces to conflicts of its own choosing and increasingly relies on aircraft carriers to sustain those operations.” He also noted that the long deployment of the Lincoln is not an isolated incident, “suggesting that extended deployments may be becoming a feature rather than an exception of the Navy's force-generation model.” The USS Gerald R. Ford, used for the U.S.’s military operation in Venezuela, spent 326 days at sea before its return in May, Blumenthal wrote, which he noted was “nearly twice the length of a traditional six-month carrier deployment and the longest modern U.S. carrier deployment since the Vietnam era.” Sen. Ruben Gallego requested an oversight visit to investigate the reports. “Unlike Donald Trump, I've seen active duty,” Gallego wrote on X. “The way he's treating our service members as he carries out this illegal war is not just disgusting; it’s dangerous. These sailors are owed a sense of when they will go home.” Gallego referenced the reports of crew members threatening to jump overboard, shifts lasting as long as 16 hours, rationed meals, and moldy showers, which he called “a frightening alarm bell.” Rep. Sara Jacobs of California, who has introduced a War Powers Resolution to restrict Trump’s authority to continue the conflict in Iran without congressional approval, said that the Lincoln’s crew was “going through hell” and called for an end to the war. She described the reported poor conditions on the carrier as “a personnel issue and a national security risk.” Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, a Navy veteran, has also taken to social media to call for accountability. “Our servicemembers deserve better than this,” he said in a video posted to Bluesky. “There needs to be an investigation.” Kelly also blamed Trump having “no way out” of the war with Iran for the extended deployment of those aboard the Lincoln. Rep. Mike Levin, who represents part of the San Diego region where the Lincoln was deployed from in November, took jabs at Hegseth’s comments downplaying the reports about the carrier. “When families first raised the alarm back in April, Pete Hegseth called it fake news,” he wrote on X. “These men and women signed up to serve their country. The least their country owes them is hot water, a working toilet, and a real meal. Hegseth cannot even manage that, and he has the nerve to look their families in the eye and call them liars.” A number of other Democrats have also joined the chorus of concerned voices over the Lincoln, including Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado; Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts; and Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, the top Democrat on the Senate Defense Appropriations subcommittee.

President Donald Trump on Friday dismissed concerns raised by families of sailors and Marines aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, rejecting the suggestion that the aircraft carrier’s deployment has gone on too long as the ship remains at sea amid the war with Iran. Asked by a reporter whether family members were concerned about conditions aboard the Lincoln, Trump replied, “No they’re not.” When asked whether the deployment had lasted too long, he responded, “No. Not nearly long enough.” Trump’s remarks came as the roughly 5,000 sailors and Marines aboard the Lincoln face an extended deployment that has lasted about nine months. The carrier has spent a record stretch at sea, with reports describing concerns over exhaustion, mental health, sanitation, food supplies and other living conditions. Families Raise Concerns Over Extended Deployment Military families have directly raised concerns with Navy leadership during meetings in San Diego, with about 200 relatives attending an emotional town hall on Thursday. According to accounts of the meetings, families questioned Navy officials about the mental health and safety of their loved ones. Some said sailors were struggling with exhaustion and low morale, while others pleaded for information about when the carrier would return home. One parent reportedly said her daughter felt she was never going to come home and believed she would die aboard the ship. Another spouse said her husband had not yet spent time with their baby, who was born during the deployment. Navy leaders acknowledged the strain on families. Vice Adm. Joseph Cahill said, “We hear you loud and clear the impact this has on families, on service members, and on the long-term ability of us to stand, sustain our forces’ health.” Reports Detail Conditions Aboard USS Lincoln Families have also raised concerns about broken toilets, mold or mildew in showers, shortages of supplies, food problems, mail disruptions and water quality. Navy officials acknowledged a “stubborn clog” that left toilets in part of the ship unusable for an extended period. They also said difficult supply lines during the Iran war had disrupted food, mail and other deliveries. Vice Adm. Douglas Verissimo said the Navy had prioritized food and essential supplies, while acknowledging that deliveries remained challenging. “We’re doing a better job with supplies and mail. It’s getting better, it’s still not good, and it was extremely bad for a little while,” Verissimo said. Reports from Navy Times and Stars & Stripes have also described multiple alleged incidents in which sailors considered or attempted to go overboard. The Navy, however, said it had not identified an increase in reported suicidal ideation or suicide attempts aboard the Lincoln. Another Carrier Set to Relieve Lincoln The Navy is preparing another carrier to relieve the Lincoln, although officials have not provided a firm date for the replacement. Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao told families that the USS Theodore Roosevelt was being prepared to deploy to the Middle East, while reports later indicated the USS George Washington was also heading toward the region. The Lincoln has spent 259 days on deployment as of Friday and has had only limited opportunities to stop ashore. Navy officials have acknowledged that prolonged deployments are becoming more frequent and that the current circumstances are particularly difficult because the military is engaged in active combat. Despite the concerns, Navy leaders repeatedly praised the crew’s performance. “I cannot even tell you how proud we are of them,” Cahill said, praising the sailors for their “precision and professionalism.”

The aircraft carrier USS George Washington has begun its voyage toward the Middle East from the Pacific Ocean after reports emerged of mental health and supply issues aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has had a prolonged deployment. Lincoln has been providing support during the United States' war with Iran and has been deployed at sea continuously for more than 260 days. Several Democratic lawmakers have pressured the Pentagon to account for the conditions aboard the aircraft carrier, which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Thursday were “completely distorted.” Prolonged aircraft carrier deployments during the conflict with Iran have raised concerns about the impact on service members staying away from home for extended periods, as well as about mounting tension over the ship and its resources. While hostilities between the United States and Iran have cooled in recent weeks, the Navy has reimposed a blockade on Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz, and the Trump administration has offered no clarity on how it intends to end the war. The United States could maintain the blockade “indefinitely,” Hegseth said. Trump denies that living conditions aboard the Lincoln are a concern President Donald Trump denied that there are concerns about the living conditions of the Abraham Lincoln’s crew, which has been deployed for more than eight months, although he confirmed the warship will be replaced by another. Among the more troubling details from families of the sailors was the fact that two of them had attempted to jump overboard. "No, they’re not concerned," Trump replied on Friday to a reporter who asked about the families, some of whom had expressed concerns to the press. The Lincoln “is moving, or will move very soon, and will be replaced by a very similar ship,” George Washington, he said during a press conference prior to a trip to New York state. When asked whether the deployment had been too long, he replied: “No, no, no. It has by no means been too long.” A new aircraft carrier heads to the region from the Asia-Pacific The USS George Washington sailed last week from Da Nang, Vietnam, the Navy said in a statement. Since then, the aircraft carrier, along with a cruiser and a destroyer, has been in the Strait of Singapore. An unnamed Navy official confirmed that the USS George Washington was in the Malacca Strait, which connects the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The Wall Street Journal had previously reported that the Washington would replace the Lincoln as one of the two aircraft carriers stationed in the Middle East. The move would leave the Pacific waters without an American aircraft carrier for an indefinite period. Washington views China—the region’s dominant power—as “a consolidated force” to be deterred from engaging with the United States or its allies, not as the principal global adversary it was under Joe Biden’s administration. The Lincoln was originally deployed on November 21 from San Diego and reached the Middle East in January, before the start of the February 28 war with Iran. The Navy acknowledged that the conflict created a “highly complex environment in which traditional supply hubs in the Middle East were disrupted by combat actions.” This, in turn, caused shortages and lost mail aboard the aircraft carrier, the Navy said in a statement. “The leadership prioritized mission-critical supplies: first food, then hygiene items, and then mail,” the statement said, before confirming that sailors aboard the ship currently have access to clean water and “healthy meal options.” Democrats call for scrutiny Several Democratic lawmakers have requested investigations and additional information about conditions aboard the ship, which was initially expected to return home in May. “The Lincoln’s prolonged deployment is particularly significant because it comes in the context of ongoing military operations against Iran and the possibility that substantial U.S. naval forces in the region will be required for an extended period,” wrote Senator Richard Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, in a letter to the Navy leadership. Senator Raul Gallego, a Marine veteran, said on social media that he plans to take a bipartisan delegation on an official oversight visit to the ship and that the way sailors are being treated “is not only repugnant; it is dangerous.” During a visit to Panama, Hegseth said he wants Lincoln’s sailors to return home and for crew rotations to occur as soon as possible, but he rejected reports of problems aboard. “We ensure that every ship, every crew, every captain has everything we can provide at all times. Some deployments are longer than others, and I have nothing but respect and gratitude for those sailors. What they do at sea, in those austere conditions, with fewer port calls, is incredible.” The Navy leadership, including Acting Secretary Hung Cao, held a tense town hall with families of troops aboard the Lincoln last week, where the air and surface commanders pledged to do everything possible to relieve the aircraft carrier. MS NOW was the first outlet to report on the meeting. The Navy rejected early reports from last April about shortages of food aboard the ship, calling them “false.” Mental health concerns aboard the ship Since then, reports have emerged that sailors aboard the Lincoln are coping with mental health concerns. The Navy stressed in its statement that it “has not observed an increase in suicidal ideation or attempts aboard the ship,” but officials refused to provide data citing operational security and patients’ privacy concerns. A Navy official said a sailor aboard the Lincoln fell overboard in early August but was rescued and treated immediately by the ship’s medical team before being moved off the ship to continue treatment. The official did not say whether the incident was considered an attempted suicide. The United States Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, rejected reports of poor conditions. “Sailors and Marines of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group maintain their resilience and determination after more than 240 days at sea, 10,000 flight hours, and 1.5 million pounds (680 kilograms) of munitions employed,” the command said on social media. Other aircraft carriers have also had prolonged deployments that raised concerns about crew morale. The USS Gerald R. Ford returned home in mid-May after an 11-month deployment, the longest since the Vietnam War, during which it supported the U.S. war with Iran and the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. During its deployment, the Ford suffered a fire in the laundry area that forced the carrier to return to the Mediterranean for repairs and left hundreds of sailors without sleeping quarters.

Trump dismisses criticism of USS Lincoln, says deployment 'not long enough' WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump denied that family members of sailors on the USS Abraham Lincoln ‒ now being replaced in the Middle East ‒ have concerns about the ship after reports of suicide attempts and declining moral amid extended deployment. "Well, no, that ship is moving. No, they're not," Trump said on Aug. 14 in a response to a reporter who began a question by stating families are concerned about the conditions on the USS Lincoln. Asked whether the deployment of the ship's sailors has gone too long amid the war in Iran, Trump responded: "No, not nearly long enough." Trump's remarks came after two military-focused outlets, the Navy Times and Stars and Stripes, this week reported on suicide attempts aboard the ship, exhaustion among the crew of 5,000 sailors and sharply declining morale. Trump confirmed another ship, the USS George Washington, is heading to the region to replace the USS Lincoln, though U.S. officials have said the move is part of a previously planned rotation. "That ship is moving right now, or very shortly, and it's being replaced with another very similar ship," Trump told reporters before the president boarded Air Force One for a trip to New York. The 5,000 sailors and Marines aboard the Lincoln have been at sea since November 2025 and have supported the U.S. war in Iran for the past eight months. Their deployment was originally anticipated to end in May, but no date has since been set for their return, with no end in sight to the war. Sen. Richard Blumental, D-Connecticut, in an Aug. 12 letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on the Lincoln's conditions, cited "widespread reports of shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, plumbing issues, deteriorating mental health, deck safety concerns, and disruptions in the mail system, which have caused many care packages in route to the ship to be lost in transit for months." Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the reports "warrant immediate attention" and raise questions whether the Navy can "sustain the operational tempo now being demanded of its carrier force." Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth this week defended the conditions on the Lincoln, arguing the reports "completely misrepresented" the reality. "We make sure every ship, every crew, every captain has everything we can provide them at every single moment," Hegesth told reporters in Panama on Aug. 13. "Some deployments are longer than others, and I have more respect and gratitude for those sailors than anybody. What they do in those high seas in those austere conditions with less port calls — it's incredible." Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.

"Suicide attempts by jumping from it" .. alarming reports about the conditions on the American aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln Ghasaa - A number of U.S. Democratic lawmakers have called for answers after families of sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln raised concerns about deteriorating living conditions and worsening mental health issues during a record deployment, in the midst of the war with Iran. Since leaving Lincoln’s home port in San Diego in November, the aircraft carrier has spent more than 250 days on a mission, redirected to the Middle East to support U.S. operations in the war with Iran, now in its sixth month. The ship, carrying more than 5,000 sailors and Marines, has not docked at any port for more than 200 days, setting a recent record for consecutive days at sea, according to Senator Richard Blumenthal. Stars and Stripes and Navy Times reported this week that there were several attempted jumps by crew members from the ship, citing interviews with sailors and families aboard who described the toll of prolonged deployment at sea. In a letter sent on Wednesday to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Acting Navy Secretary HanG Kao, Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut and a member of the Armed Services Committee, expressed his "deep concern" about increasing deployment lengths and requested answers about living conditions on the carrier. In the letter, he stated there are widespread reports of shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, plumbing problems, mental health deterioration, and surface safety concerns aboard the ship, as well as disruptions in the mail system that caused many packages sent by families to the ship to go missing for months. According to the outlets, about 200 members of Lincoln’s family crew spoke with Acting Navy Secretary Kao and other senior officials about mental health and safety concerns during meetings with families held last Thursday in San Diego. During one meeting, the crying wife of a sailor told officials that she had received a message from her husband that day saying he "wished he wouldn’t wake up tomorrow," StarS and Stripes quoted a participant as saying. Other concerns discussed included reports of supply shortages, food shortages, water contamination, and mail disruption, according to MS, which reviewed audio and video recordings of the meeting. In one meeting, Rear Admiral Joseph Cahill, the Surface Forces Commander, acknowledged the pressures faced by sailors and their families, according to MS, telling the families, "We hear you clearly regarding the impact on families, on service members, and our long-term ability to endure and maintain the health of our forces." The U.S. Navy told CNN in a statement: "We have not seen an increase in suicidal thoughts or attempts aboard the ship. We take the welfare of every service member very seriously, and we have clergy, medical, and mental health professionals available to assess and address concerns as they arise." CNN contacted the Department of Defense about these reports and Blumenthal’s letter. California Democrat Mike Levin pointed to the meeting in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, saying families spoke of "rotten bathrooms, broken toilets, weeks without hot water, meals limited to half a cup of rice and two tortillas." He wrote, "Sailors are so exhausted that one family member said the ship’s doctor himself warned of the need to reach a port soon, or people will start losing their minds." In a Tuesday report, Stars and Stripes said interviews with active sailors and family members, along with "dozens of comments and public posts on social media" by crew members, showed that sailors are experiencing fatigue and morale decline, including reports of suicidal thoughts and at least one incident where a crew member was prevented from jumping overboard. Navy Times also quoted a wife of a service member aboard Lincoln saying her husband tried to jump from the ship during the current deployment. Anabelle Luma told the paper, "He’s scared. He believes he will be discharged administratively, and his 13-year career would be destroyed simply because he is exhausted. That’s not fair, and that’s not right. This is not what should worry him now." Navy Times also spoke to another sailor’s wife who said her husband told her he prevented another sailor from jumping off the ship in a separate incident. In an interview with CNN, Natalie Oliveira, the journalist who prepared the Navy Times report, said Luma had received no contact from Navy officials for weeks and that she is "deeply worried and fearful for her husband’s actual condition right now." Oliveira added that Luma faces mounting pressure from her husband’s deployment while she is raising their three young children, "so not getting answers or guidance is a major challenge for her, especially at this time." Massachusetts Democrat Seth Moulton, a former Marine and a member of the House Armed Services Committee, described the reports as "horrific" in an interview with CNN anchor Laura Cowan, and said his committee would investigate. "Unfortunately, I’m not surprised. We have a President, the Commander-in-Chief, who has belittled the military for mental health issues. We have a Secretary of Defense who focuses more on testosterone tests than on keeping our forces alive," he said. "It’s really hard to feel enthusiastic about that mission (the war with Iran). No one believes in it now, and surely that is among the heaviest burdens our troops bear." "Readiness crisis" A CNN poll in July found a record 73% of U.S. adults saying President Donald Trump has not given enough attention to the country’s most important issues, while 67% say Trump’s decisions regarding military action in Iran have harmed the United States. Armen Corderian, a retired U.S. Navy captain who previously served aboard Lincoln, told KFMB local: "It’s not unusual for a carrier’s fighting group to experience a moment when someone on board wants to jump over the ship or attempt suicide during a deployment." Corderian added: "Obviously this does not happen every day, but it happens. So a jump during the current deployment is not surprising." In his letter to the DoD, Blumenthal said he is "deeply concerned about the increasing length of deployments for carrier strike groups." He wrote: "If the administration intends to sustain a long-term military campaign or maintain an increased carrier presence in the region, it must explain how it intends to ensure that current operational demands do not create a readiness crisis in the future," signaling the possibility of deploying more U.S. naval forces to the region. Earlier this year, the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford set a record for the longest deployment by a carrier since the Vietnam War, a protracted mission that affected crew morale over several months of intense fighting. In March, a fire broke out in the ship’s laundry section and took 30 hours to extinguish. No sailors were injured, but about 600 personnel lost access to their sleeping areas due to the damage. As CNN reported at the time, the U.S. Navy as a whole faces issues of sailors’ fatigue, according to multiple sources familiar with internal Navy discussions on the matter. Naval aviation personnel, from pilots to maintenance technicians, are leaving service at high rates, according to those sources. Officials did not announce a return date for the Lincoln during Thursday’s meetings with Lincoln crew families, citing operational security considerations, as reported by husbands and family members of the sailors to Stars and Stripes. Blumenthal wrote in his letter to the DoD: "The men and women aboard Lincoln have answered the call of duty to serve their country, and the department not only owes them adequate supplies, maintenance, and support during this deployment, but full care."

Democracy Dies in Darkness By Cat Zakrzewski President Donald Trump appeared to dismiss the concerns of military families about worsening conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln, a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea that has been deployed since November. Subscribe for unlimited access to The Post You can cancel anytime. Subscribe When a reporter prefaced a question to Trump by saying that families are concerned about the conditions on the ship, he responded, “No, they’re not.” “That ship is moving right now or very shortly, and it’s being replaced with a very similar ship,” he said. Pressed on whether the ship’s deployment — which has lasted nearly nine months — had gone on too long, Trump responded that it was “not nearly long enough.” Families of service members aboard the ship have reported food shortages, broken toilets, moldy showers, water contamination and faulty mail systems that prevent care packages from arriving. The Military Times _Catch up quickly every weekday morning with a rundown of the 7 most important and interesting stories.__Sign up for The 7 newsletter_ _._ The 7 logo The 7 LIVE PreviousNext Stella Canino-Quiñones August 14, 2026 Anna Liss-Roy August 14, 2026 Rachel Lerman August 14, 2026 Liam Scott August 14, 2026 Stella Canino-Quiñones August 14, 2026 Scott Clement August 14, 2026 Adam Taylor August 14, 2026 Ben Noll August 14, 2026 Victoria Craw August 14, 2026 Joshua Yang August 14, 2026 What readers are saying The comments express strong criticism of President Donald Trump, particularly regarding his dismissive attitude towards the prolonged deployment of sailors on the USS Abraham Lincoln. Many commenters highlight Trump's lack of empathy and understanding of military service,... Show more This summary is AI-generated. AI can make mistakes and this summary is not a replacement for reading the comments. Comments 994 !pixel