US2 min(s) read
Published 12:58 13 Aug 2026 GMT
Military families and lawmakers are sounding the alarm over a growing mental health crisis aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln as the warship reaches its ninth month at sea.
The aircraft carrier and its crew of 5,000 sailors and Marines have spent a record-breaking 250 consecutive days without making land during their deployment tied to the war with Iran.
Reports from military outlets including The Navy Times and Stars and Stripes indicate that conditions aboard the ship have reached a breaking point.
.jpg_pewoUU?tr=cr-0.0.747.467,f-webp,q-70,w-1024)
Thwarted suicide attempts have been reported, with multiple sailors attempting to jump overboard during the extended deployment. Spouses voiced deep anxieties during a town hall meeting in San Diego, where one wife shared that her husband texted her saying, "he hopes he doesn’t wake up tomorrow".
Pictures shared by service members and their families reveal unappetizing, small portions being served on board. One image of a dinner on the USS Abraham Lincoln showed a small handful of boiled carrots, a dry meat patty, and a gray slab of processed meat. Other accounts described meals consisting of half a cup of rice and two tortillas, alongside broken infrastructure such as moldy showers, non-functioning toilets, and long stretches without hot water.
To support struggling service members, families and community groups packed boxes with fresh socks, hygiene products, and food. However, the U.S. Postal Service indefinitely suspended mail delivery to 27 military ZIP codes in the region due to war conditions and airspace closures. Packages sent weeks ago remain stuck in transit facilities without reaching the crew.
Maj. Travis Shaw, an Army spokesperson, told USA Today that the suspension is "in effect until further notice," adding that "Resumption of mail service is contingent upon the reopening of airspace by civil authorities, and the area commander’s evaluation of regional transportation and distribution stability."
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed the accounts of poor conditions as "more fake news". Navy officials stated that "current reports from the ship confirm continuous access to clean water, functional AC and healthy meal options," while noting that counselors and chaplains are available on board.
However, lawmakers pushed back sharply against the official response. Rep. Mike Levin criticized the administration, stating, "These men and women signed up to serve their country. The least their country owes them is hot water, a working toilet and a real meal. Hegseth cannot even manage that, and he has the nerve to look their families in the eye and call them liars."
.webp_SmgFsc?tr=cr-292.0.1244.952,f-webp,q-70,w-100)