A U.S. Navy warship experienced a four-day loss of power in the South China Sea, leaving sailors without essential services including drinkable water, food, air conditioning, and working toilets. The incident aboard the USS Benfold, which occurred on July 24, began with a generator failure, according to reports.

Other Navy vessels were dispatched to provide meals to the crew. The USS Benfold was subsequently towed to the Philippines, where its sailors were provided with shore housing. Full power was not restored until July 30, and no injuries were reported. The Navy did not disclose the outage for nearly a month.

This event comes amid broader criticism directed at the Trump administration regarding extended carrier deployments. Reports have surfaced concerning the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East, with accounts of sailors experiencing severe burnout and attempting to leave the ship. Navy families have spoken out about deteriorating morale and instances of suicidal ideation aboard the Lincoln, with one sailor's wife reporting her husband's attempt to jump overboard after suffering severe burns.

The USS Benfold was part of the USS George Washington strike group, which was en route to the Middle East to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln. The outage comes as the Trump administration faces criticism over extended carrier deployments in the Middle East, including that of the USS Abraham Lincoln, where reports of desperate sailors throwing themselves aboard have angered military families

Since the commencement of the current military engagement, reports of food shortages and rationing aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln have emerged, accompanied by images of the sailors' meals. Since the start of Trump's war, reports have surfaced of food shortages and rationing aboard the Lincoln, accompanied by grim images of sailors' meals

In response to concerns about conditions on the USS Lincoln, President Trump has denied that such fears exist, stating the ship is operational and is being replaced as planned. He asserted that the deployment was not excessively long, but rather "not nearly long enough." Pete Hegseth has downplayed concerns about the USS Lincoln's living conditions, characterizing them as a misrepresentation. Pete Hegseth has waved off concerns about the USS Lincoln's living conditions for troops as a complete mischaracterization

Eighteen U.S. service members have died as a result of Iranian strikes in the region since the conflict began in February, with hundreds more sustaining injuries. A bipartisan group of lawmakers has advocated for a congressional visit to the USS Lincoln to assess the conditions for sailors.

Trump's Navy is facing renewed scrutiny after a warship lost all power while deployed in the South China Sea, stranding sailors without drinkable water, food, air conditioning or working toilets for four days