Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, visited the USS Abraham Lincoln during a tour of the region. The ship has been at sea for more than 260 days, setting a modern-day record for consecutive days without a port call. Concerns have been raised about the mental health of sailors and shortages of basic supplies like soap and hygiene products. Cooper praised the crew for their sacrifice and noted that the Lincoln had the lowest number of mental health cases among Navy’s 11 active aircraft carriers. He emphasized that while mental health is important, it does not mean all conditions are perfect aboard the ship.
Democratic lawmakers have called for answers regarding the situation on board the vessel, according to NPR. The USS Washington is now en route to replace the Lincoln in the Middle East, bringing with it approximately 5,000 sailors. The handoff between the two ships is not following a standard timeline, with no set duration for how long they will both remain in the region.
The Lincoln’s deployment began in January, shortly before the war with Iran started, and sailors had been aboard since the war began. Reports from families of sailors suggest that conditions on the ship are difficult, with some sailors reportedly jumping overboard. Former Navy officials have warned that dismissing concerns from sailors can make their situation worse.
Supply issues are not unique to the Lincoln, as other Navy ships in the region have also faced shortages. Sam Howard, a former Navy captain, said his son’s ship ran out of hygiene products and other essentials during deployment. Even after returning to port in Japan, the crew had not received all their mail or care packages.
President Donald Trump dismissed reports of poor conditions on the Lincoln, calling them a fake CNN story, according to a report from Newsweek. He interrupted a reporter during an interview, telling her to be quiet and calling her question inhumane. White House officials defended the administration’s handling of the situation, calling media coverage misleading.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said reports about the ship’s conditions were inaccurate and misrepresented the situation, NBC News reported. The replacement of the Lincoln by the USS George Washington could take several weeks to complete. It may take at least two weeks for the Lincoln to return to its home base in San Diego.
The Navy has said that long deployments are difficult and that service at sea for extended periods is not for everyone. Navy leadership has acknowledged the challenges of long deployments but emphasized that these are part of military life.
The situation has sparked debate over how the military handles long-term deployments and support for sailors.
IMAGE: The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) underway in the Western Pacific on 21 December 2004. Abraham Lincoln, with assigned Carrier Air Wing 2 (CVW-2), was deployed to the Western Pacific 15 October 2004 to 4 May 2005.. Photo: U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate Airman Patrick M. Bonafede / Wikimedia, taken 2004-12-21, Public domain