Democratic senators demand answers about conditions aboard USS Abraham Lincoln

Washington — Senate Democrats demanded answers Wednesday about conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, following reports of food shortages, broken plumbing and mental health crises during the aircraft carrier’s record-setting deployment.

In a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, of Connecticut, called for the Navy to account for conditions aboard the carrier, which he said “has been deployed more than 250 days” without coming ashore “in over 200 days, setting a record for consecutive days at sea.”

Blumenthal voiced concern over such extended deployments, noting “widespread reports of shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, plumbing issues, deteriorating mental health, deck safety concerns” and other problems aboard the Lincoln.

A Navy official told CBS News that the “Lincoln is operating in a highly contested environment where traditional supply hubs in the Middle East were disrupted by combat actions. In response, leadership prioritized mission-critical supplies: first food, then hygiene items, then mail. Current reports from the ship confirm continuous access to clean water, functional AC, and healthy meal options.”   

Two U.S. officials confirmed to CBS News that a sailor from the USS Lincoln went overboard last month and was recovered safely. The circumstances of how and why the sailor went overboard are under investigation. This was first reported by CNN.

In two recent meetings, family members clashed with Navy leadership over the difficult conditions — including food shortages — faced by the 5,000 sailors and Marines aboard the Lincoln and demanded to know when loved ones would return home, MSNOW reported.

Some families reported severe mental health issues and attempted suicides on board.

Citing a report in the Military Times that said several sailors had tried to jump overboard or were prevented from trying to in recent months, Sen. Ruben Gallego, of Arizona, said in a social media post Wednesday that the Navy “must allow a bipartisan Congressional Delegation to visit the USS Lincoln to conduct (an) oversight investigation into this horrible situation.”  

The Navy official told CBS News,”Based on information available to the command, we have not identified an increase in reported suicidal ideation or suicide attempts aboard the ship. … (The) Lincoln is providing a comprehensive support network, including onboard deployment-resilience counselors, chaplains, Fleet and Family Support Center services, Military OneSource, and medical professionals.”