The top U.S. military commander in the Middle East has stated that mental health is a priority aboard the warship USS Lincoln, following reports of difficult conditions and extended deployment for the vessel.
Adm. Brad Cooper, after visiting the ship on Saturday, noted that the USS Lincoln has "among the lowest number of cases related to mental health" compared to 11 other active U.S. aircraft carriers. However, he acknowledged that prolonged naval service at sea is "uniquely challenging and tough."
The USS Lincoln arrived in the Middle East in January and has been involved in supporting U.S. operations, including the blockade on Iranian ports. The ship has spent more than 240 consecutive days at sea, a record duration.
Families of sailors on the Lincoln have voiced concerns over deteriorating mental health due to the onboard conditions. Some reports indicated that sailors had attempted to jump overboard.
Adm. Cooper stated on Sunday that he believes "mental health is another aspect of individual health and requires our attention just like physical health and spiritual health." He also commended the Lincoln's leadership for making "mental health and crew resilience a leadership priority."
While the U.S. Navy acknowledged supply challenges last week, it denied a mental health crisis on the Lincoln, which carries a crew of 5,000.
Reports from publications like Military Times and Stars & Stripes last week detailed conditions aboard the ship, including poor sanitation, infrequent port visits, broken plumbing, and shortages of fresh food.
Thirteen Democratic members of the Senate Armed Services Committee sent a letter on Saturday to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, criticizing the deployment's length as a "modern-day record" and seeking answers. In response, Hegseth called the reports of conditions "completely misrepresented," while President Donald Trump dismissed suggestions that sailors had been at sea too long, stating Friday, "Not nearly long enough."
The USS Lincoln's deployment, initially scheduled to end in May, has seen multiple extensions, with personnel reportedly at sea for over 200 consecutive days without a port call.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore, a U.S. Army veteran, described the reported conditions as "heartbreaking" and urged the president to show more compassion.
The USS George Washington is en route to relieve the USS Lincoln and is expected to arrive in the region within approximately a week.