The U.S. Navy will face congressional scrutiny over conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been deployed for nearly nine months without returning to port. The carrier is set to be replaced by the USS George Washington in the Middle East, according to a U.S. official cited by CBS News.
Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), a retired Air Force brigadier general, called for oversight hearings and testimony from top Navy officials, including the secretary of the Navy or the service chief of the Navy. Speaking on Face the Nation, Bacon stated, “We should bring in the secretary of the Navy and/or … the service chief of the Navy and have them explain to us the truth on that.”
The push for accountability follows reports of supply shortages and mental health concerns among sailors and their families. Some family members have alleged that multiple sailors considered jumping overboard during the extended deployment, though no deaths have been confirmed. Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao stated in a post on X that “a small number of mental health cases were treated with no loss of life.”
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) also demanded answers in a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, noting the Lincoln had been deployed for more than 250 days without coming ashore for over 200 consecutive days—a record for the Navy.
Background: Deployment and Record Duration
The USS Abraham Lincoln was deployed in February 2024 and has operated continuously in the Middle East, fulfilling a planned rotation to replace the USS George Washington. The Navy has stated the carrier “will return home soon as part of a planned rotation,” per Cao’s post.
Bacon, who served on an aircraft carrier in 1996 during a deployment enforcing the no-fly zone over Iraq, acknowledged that mental health struggles and suicides have occurred on past deployments. “We had a couple members jump overboard and commit suicide while I was on that deployment,” he said. “These incidents, they’re terrible, they’re sad, but they have happened previously and unfortunately, likely will again.”
Official Responses and Family Concerns
The Navy has not publicly detailed the specific supply shortages or mental health cases beyond Cao’s statement. Family members of sailors have described anxiety and frustration over communication delays and perceived neglect, though their claims have not been independently verified by the Navy.
Defense Secretary Hegseth has not yet responded publicly to Blumenthal’s letter, which requested a full accounting of conditions aboard the Lincoln. The Department of Defense has not provided additional details on whether the carrier’s deployment duration contributed to the reported issues.
Congressional Oversight and Next Steps
Bacon’s call for hearings reflects broader concerns among lawmakers about Navy readiness and sailor welfare during extended deployments. The House Armed Services Committee has not yet scheduled a hearing, but Bacon indicated he would push for one before leaving Congress in early 2025.
The USS George Washington is expected to arrive in the region within weeks, according to the U.S. official, though no timeline for the Lincoln’s return has been confirmed.