2 weeks ago
US replacing USS Abraham Lincoln amid reports of suffering troops
The United States has very big ships called aircraft carriers that carry airplanes and thousands of sailors.
One of these ships is the USS Abraham Lincoln.
It has been away from home for a very long time — more than 260 days.
That is one of the longest trips an aircraft carrier has ever taken.
More than 5,000 sailors and Marines live and work on the ship.
Some news reports say the sailors are very tired and stressed, and that a few even tried to jump off the ship.
There were also problems with supplies and mail not arriving on time.
The Navy says it made sure sailors first got food, then hygiene items, and then their mail.
The Secretary of Defense says the sad reports are not true, but some lawmakers want to check on the sailors themselves.
Now the Navy is sending a new carrier called the USS George Washington to take over the job, so the sailors can finally come home.
The USS George Washington, which left port in Da Nang, Vietnam, is being sent to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln as one of two US aircraft carriers in the Middle East.
The USS Abraham Lincoln has been at sea for over 260 days (one report says over 240), making it one of the longest carrier deployments in modern history.
Navy Times and Stars and Stripes reported multiple suicide attempts and declining morale aboard the roughly 5,000-person ship.
The Navy conceded supply disruptions and lost mail, saying leadership prioritized food, then hygiene items, then mail.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed the reports as "completely misrepresented," while Democratic lawmakers are demanding investigations and an oversight visit.
- Who
- Over 5,000 US sailors and Marines aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, plus Navy leadership, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Democratic lawmakers including Senators Richard Blumenthal and Ruben Gallego.
- What
- The US is sending the aircraft carrier USS George Washington to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East amid reports of a mental health crisis, supply shortages, and declining morale.
- Where
- The Middle East, including the Strait of Hormuz; the USS George Washington was spotted crossing the Singapore Strait and Strait of Malacca en route to the Indian Ocean.
- When
- As of this week, the Lincoln has been at sea for over 260 days; it was deployed on November 21, 2025, arrived in the Middle East in January 2026, and was originally set to return in May.
- Why
- The prolonged war between the US and Iran extended the Lincoln's deployment, and reports of suffering troops and an alleged mental health crisis prompted the replacement.
Pressure for accountability over sailor welfare
Pentagon and administration defense of deployment
Conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln
Pressure for accountability over sailor welfare
Reports from Navy Times and Stars and Stripes cite multiple suicide attempts, declining morale, and a worsening mental health crisis, and the Navy conceded supply shortages and lost mail caused by combat disruption.
Pentagon and administration defense of deployment
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth called the reports "completely misrepresented," and the Navy said sailors now have clean water and healthy meal options, with supplies prioritized as food, then hygiene items, then mail.
Length and reason for the deployment
Pressure for accountability over sailor welfare
Democratic lawmakers call the extended deployment and treatment of sailors "disgusting" and "dangerous," demanding investigations, more information, and an official bipartisan oversight visit to the ship.
Pentagon and administration defense of deployment
The Trump administration says the prolonged war against Iran requires the extended deployment, with Hegseth claiming the US can maintain its blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz "indefinitely."
Key facts
- Replacement carrier
- USS George Washington
- Carrier being replaced
- USS Abraham Lincoln
- Time at sea
- Over 260 days (one report says over 240)
- Personnel on board
- Over 5,000 sailors and Marines
- Deployment start
- November 21, 2025, from San Diego
- Iran war launch
- February 28
- Reported problems
- Multiple suicide attempts, declining morale, supply shortages, lost mail
- Defence Secretary's response
- Hegseth calls reports "completely misrepresented"
Quotes
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth
U.S. Secretary of Defense
“"We make sure every ship, every crew, every captain has everything we can provide them at every single moment. Some deployments are longer than others, and I have more respect and gratitude for those sailors than anybody."”
NDTV
Sources
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