Eight Sailors Attempted Suicide During USS Abraham Lincoln's Record Deployment

Eight U.S. Navy sailors deployed aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln during its Iran deployment attempted suicide, Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao confirmed in a letter to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. The attempts, which occurred across the strike group including the Lincoln's crew and associated personnel, did not result in fatalities, Cao stated. The letter was a response to Gillibrand's inquiries regarding the vessel's conditions during its record-setting 280-day deployment.

One additional sailor attempted to go overboard in March but was stopped by shipmates and received immediate medical care before returning to homeport, according to Cao. A U.S. military official described the number of suicide attempts as "incredibly high."

The USS Abraham Lincoln's patrol involved 280 days at sea, with 200 of those days in combat zones, playing a role in Operation Epic Fury and the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports. During the deployment, sailors reportedly faced challenging conditions, including long working hours, cramped quarters, and intermittent Wi-Fi access, which family members indicated contributed to mental health crises among the crew.

Sailors described working 12-hour shifts, seven days a week, with meal portions sometimes reduced to ensure sufficient rations due to resupply difficulties amid ongoing conflict. Reports also surfaced of issues such as moldy showers, broken toilets, and laundry outages.

In response to the reported conditions and the mental health toll on sailors, the Navy is implementing changes for future deployments. The USS Theodore Roosevelt, preparing for its next deployment, will carry extra supplies, and the Navy is prioritizing "quality of life" issues. Efforts include converting available spaces into additional storage to enhance self-sufficiency, providing new entertainment and more durable fitness equipment, and ensuring more reliable communication for families.

Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy John Perryman stated that lessons learned from the Lincoln's deployment are being used to better prepare the next team. Admiral Daryl Caudle emphasized that taking care of sailors is integral to maintaining combat readiness.

Senator Gillibrand criticized the administration's handling of the situation, stating, "What Trump and Secretary Hegseth dismissed as 'fake news' turned out to be serious and deteriorating conditions for our service members." She added, "Our troops and their families make immense sacrifices every single day, yet the president dismissed them with open disrespect."

A bipartisan Congressional delegation is scheduled to embark on the USS Abraham Lincoln when it returns home as part of an investigation into the deployment's conditions. In the most recent year for which the Pentagon released suicide data, 2024, there were 356 suicide attempts among active-duty sailors nationwide.