Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao has confirmed that eight sailors assigned to the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group attempted suicide during the vessel's extended deployment in the Middle East. Cao disclosed these figures in a letter addressed to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, in response to official inquiries regarding the welfare of the ship's crew. While the incidents occurred over the course of the deployment, Cao noted that no sailors had died by suicide while the aircraft carrier was at sea.
The USS Abraham Lincoln, which commenced its current deployment on November 21, 2025, is presently transiting to its home port in San Diego. The ship has been at sea for more than 300 days and is expected to remain in transit for approximately two more weeks. Beyond the reported suicide attempts, the letter highlighted other safety incidents, including an early August event where a sailor assigned to the ship’s air wing went overboard. The individual was quickly recovered by a search and rescue helicopter. In a separate incident in March, a sailor who attempted to go overboard was stopped by fellow crew members.
The deployment has been marked by significant duration and intense operational demands, with the ship spending roughly 280 days at sea—a modern record—while enforcing a U.S. blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. A former Pentagon official noted that the frequency of the attempts reflects the severe challenges faced by sailors during these operations, emphasizing the necessity of ensuring combat-capable personnel have access to all available resources.
The crew's time at sea led to reports of deteriorating conditions, including issues with food availability and sanitation. Regarding nutrition, the letter stated that while the ship served four meals daily, the variety of main entrée options was temporarily reduced from two to one to ensure sustained time on station. Cao maintained that all meals were nutritionally balanced and provided adequate calories. Addressing sanitation concerns, the document acknowledged that the ship experienced localized piping failures and temporary disruptions to its reverse osmosis desalination units, which were attributed to continuous operations and high ambient seawater temperatures.
These conditions previously drew sharp criticism from lawmakers and the families of those deployed. Although the Trump administration initially downplayed concerns regarding the ship’s maintenance, President Donald Trump stated in August that the vessel was being beautifully maintained. Sen. Gillibrand criticized both the President and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for dismissing the families' concerns, describing the administration's response as disrespectful given the sacrifices made by the service members.
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Md. Kazi Bijoy is a dedicated tech enthusiast and content creator with a passion for digital innovation. With years of experience in the tech industry, he specializes in breaking down complex topics into easy-to-understand guides. When he isn’t writing, he explores the latest gadgets and researches emerging trends in the digital world.