Senate Democrats sent a formal letter Wednesday demanding answers about conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, following reports of severe supply shortages, broken plumbing, and mental health crises during what has become a record-setting deployment.
According to CBS News, Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut addressed the letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao. Blumenthal said the carrier "has been deployed more than 250 days" without coming ashore "in over 200 days, setting a record for consecutive days at sea." He cited "widespread reports of shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, plumbing issues, deteriorating mental health, deck safety concerns" and other problems aboard the ship.
The Navy pushed back on the most serious characterizations of conditions on board. A Navy official told CBS News 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."
The Navy also confirmed that a sailor assigned to the air wing attached to the Lincoln went overboard earlier this month. The sailor was recovered safely by a helicopter search team, treated by the ship's medical department, and transferred off the ship for additional care. The sailor's family was notified. The Navy said the circumstances are under investigation.
Family members of those aboard the Lincoln have clashed with Navy leadership in two recent meetings over the conditions faced by the roughly 5,000 sailors and Marines aboard the ship. Some families reported severe mental health issues and attempted suicides on board, according to CBS News.
The Military Times reported that several sailors had tried to jump overboard or were prevented from doing so in recent months. Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona responded to that report in a social media post Wednesday, saying the Navy "must allow a bipartisan Congressional Delegation to visit the USS Lincoln to conduct (an) oversight investigation into this horrible situation."
The Navy disputed the most alarming accounts of the mental health situation. The Navy official told CBS News, "Based on information available to the command, we have not identified an increase in reported suicidal ideation or suicide attempts aboard the ship. ... (The) Lincoln is providing a comprehensive support network, including onboard deployment-resilience counselors, chaplains, Fleet and Family Support Center services, Military OneSource, and medical professionals."
No return date for the Lincoln has been publicly announced.
