Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao announced Friday that the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln is heading back to the United States, ending a deployment that has stretched beyond 260 days and drawn intense scrutiny over the conditions faced by its crew.
In a statement, Cao praised the ship's performance while acknowledging the strain on personnel. "The USS Abraham Lincoln crushed their deployment and will return home soon as part of a planned rotation," he said. "Details will come but let me be clear: the safety and security of our Sailors and Marines always comes first. Mission accomplishment. Troop Welfare. This is how we lead."
The carrier departed San Diego in November and has been operating in the Middle East, with its deployment extended multiple times as the Pentagon responded to regional threats. Cao defended the extension, saying the mission "demanded it," but conceded that "deployments are hard" and "combat operations make them harder." He added, "War is hell, and normal routines are disrupted."
The announcement comes amid growing concern over mental health and morale on the Lincoln, with reports of suicides and harsh living conditions prompting questions from lawmakers. Senator Richard Blumenthal has demanded answers from Navy leadership about the crisis, and the service has faced pressure to address the welfare of the crew.
Cao, who became acting secretary in April after the ouster of John Phelan, sought to strike a balance between acknowledging the difficulties and defending the Navy's approach. "One of the hardest aspects about warfighting beyond knowingly placing our service members in harm's way is that even with the best planning and communication, change and uncertainty will always be in play," he wrote. "Our success depends on how we adapt."
The Navy has already announced that the Lincoln will be replaced by the USS George Washington, a move that comes amid the morale crisis. Cao emphasized that leaders are "taking care of their people the best they can while balancing mission requirements," and noted that during this deployment "the job is getting done and our leaders are taking care of their people."
Still, the extended deployment has raised broader questions about the sustainability of the Navy's carrier rotation schedule and the toll on service members. The Lincoln's return is expected to be phased, with the ship likely to arrive in its home port of San Diego in the coming weeks.
Cao's statement did not provide a specific timeline for the ship's arrival, but he stressed that "Sailors and Marines are expected to dig deep—and they always do." He added, "A leader's responsibility is to take care of their people the best they can while balancing mission requirements."
