Acting U.S. Navy Secretary Hung Cao confirmed in a letter to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand that eight sailors assigned to the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group attempted suicide during the vessel’s deployment, which included combat operations against Iran.
No deaths by suicide were reported during the deployment, according to Cao’s letter, dated Tuesday. The strike group, deployed since November 2025, includes between 6,000 and 7,000 sailors across multiple ships, including the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, its air wing, destroyer squadron staff, escorting destroyers, and aviation squadrons.
Mental health resources on board
Cao’s letter highlighted the availability of mental health support for the crew, including five chaplains, one embedded integrated prevention counselor, one psychologist, one clinical social worker, three behavioral health technicians, and one expeditionary facility dog. The Navy has stated that the rate of suicide attempts across the strike group is roughly consistent with the active-duty Navy’s 2024 figures, which recorded 356 suicide attempts among approximately 337,000 active-duty sailors.
Deployment conditions and concerns
The USS Abraham Lincoln remained at sea for more than six months without port calls while conducting high-tempo combat operations. Reports have emerged regarding food shortages, supply issues, and faulty plumbing, contributing to concerns about sailor morale and mental health. Families of crew members have raised alarms, prompting congressional scrutiny.
Senator Gillibrand, who requested the data, stated in a response that “What Trump and Secretary Hegseth dismissed as ‘fake news’ turned out to be serious and deteriorating conditions for our service members.” The Pentagon has defended conditions on the ship, asserting that mental health resources are accessible and that there has been no increase in suicide attempts.
Timeline and context
Two of the suicide attempts occurred during active fighting with Iran, according to a defense official. The deployment began in November 2025, with the carrier strike group spending more than 250 uninterrupted days at sea in the Middle East. The USS Abraham Lincoln is now returning to the United States after completing its mission.