Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has denied reports that sailors onboard the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier are so unhappy with the conditions at sea that they are jumping overboard. Approximately 5,000 sailors and Marines have been aboard the carrier for nearly nine months, with their deployment extended indefinitely amid tensions with Iran. These extended deployments have reportedly led to burnout among some sailors.
Speaking to Newsmax, Hegseth stated that the reports were "completely misrepresented." He asserted that the military provides all necessary resources to ships and crews, acknowledging that "some deployments are longer than others." Hegseth expressed profound respect and gratitude for the sailors serving in "high seas and those austere conditions with less port calls."
However, Hegseth did not directly address claims of supply shortages, water contamination, or deteriorating mental health among the crew. He also did not provide a timeline for the vessel's return to the United States, even as the USS George Washington is being deployed to the region.
Family members have expressed concerns about their loved ones, citing issues such as mildew in showers and a lack of clean water. Naval officials have stated these issues have been resolved, and Hegseth has previously dismissed reports of low food supplies as "fake news."
Reports from sailors' families have detailed instances where sailors have attempted to go overboard. One spouse, Annabelle Loma, said her husband attempted to jump overboard due to exhaustion and is now on medical hold. She expressed concern that his career could be jeopardized by the incident.
In another account, a sailor on watch intervened to stop a shipmate from going overboard, according to the sailor's wife, Maria Rodriguez. Other sailors also assisted in preventing the incident. A few months prior, watchstanders reportedly stopped another crew member from going overboard amidst struggles with exhaustion and declining morale.
These concerns prompted a town hall meeting last Thursday, where over 200 family members met with acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao. During the meeting, some spouses shared deeply distressing messages from their husbands, including one who expressed not wanting to wake up the next day. Another mother relayed that her daughter feels she will die on the ship and never return home.
Vice Admiral Joseph Cahill, commander of the Naval Surface Forces, acknowledged the strain on sailors and families due to extended deployments. He stated that sailors have access to mental health professionals, chaplains, and doctors, and that additional mental health support is being sent to the ship. The Navy has indicated that the USS Lincoln's leadership is continuously assessing the psychological readiness of its sailors.
Congressional Democrats have also demanded accountability. Senator Richard Blumenthal sent a letter to Hegseth, calling for an explanation of the conditions aboard the USS Lincoln, which has reportedly been deployed for over 250 days with more than 200 consecutive days at sea. Blumenthal voiced concerns about "widespread reports of shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, plumbing issues, deteriorating mental health, deck safety concerns" and other problems, emphasizing the department's obligation to provide adequate support.
Senator Ruben Gallego called for an official oversight visit by a bipartisan Senate delegation to investigate the reported conditions aboard the USS Lincoln.