A coalition of House Democrats has formally requested answers from Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao regarding the state of the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been deployed in the Middle East for more than 260 days. The lawmakers, led by Reps. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.), Maggie Goodlander (D-N.H.), Wesley Bell (D-Mo.), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), Marilyn Strickland (D-Wash.), Chris Deluzio (D-Penn.), and Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.), sent a letter on Friday citing alarming reports about the crew's well-being and the ship's condition.
“The Lincoln’s extended deployment is accompanied by deeply troubling reports about sailors’ mental health and living conditions,” the lawmakers wrote. They acknowledged the inherent difficulties of operating in a warzone but stressed that such challenges—including reduced port calls and heightened psychological strain—should have been anticipated and mitigated.
“We also note that these challenges, including the inability to make port calls as frequently and the increased mental strain on sailors in a war environment, should be foreseeable and actions should be taken to mitigate the effects to the extent possible,” they continued. The letter specifically asks Cao what steps the Navy is taking to address these issues, including whether there are chronic hygiene problems and food shortages aboard the vessel.
The USS Lincoln carries approximately 5,000 sailors and Marines. Its deployment, which began on November 21, has been extended to support U.S. operations against Iran. Families of crew members have reported that several sailors have attempted or been prevented from jumping overboard during the prolonged tour.
Navy officials and President Trump have denied any spike in suicide attempts on the ship. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has also dismissed reports of dire conditions as “completely misrepresented.” However, the Democratic lawmakers are pressing for transparency, and Senate Democrats have launched a separate inquiry into “deck safety concerns.”
In a statement released Friday, Cao announced that the Lincoln’s crew “crushed their deployment” and would return home “soon as part of a planned rotation” with the USS George Washington. “Details will come but let me be clear: the safety and security of our Sailors and Marines always comes first,” he said. The Navy has not yet responded to requests for comment from The Hill.
The development comes amid growing scrutiny of the carrier’s extended mission. Earlier reports suggested that the Navy chief ordered the Lincoln home after nine months under fire, and the service has announced plans to replace the Lincoln with the George Washington amid the morale crisis. Hegseth’s dismissal of the conditions has not quelled bipartisan concern, as lawmakers demand concrete action.
As the political pressure mounts, the situation on the USS Lincoln has become a flashpoint in the broader debate over military readiness and the human cost of extended deployments. The Democrats’ letter underscores a growing unease in Congress about the toll that sustained operations in the Middle East are taking on service members.
