Democrats on Capitol Hill are raising what they describe as serious concerns about conditions aboard a United States military aircraft carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln. The ship has been deployed for months as part of the war with Iran, and lawmakers say reports from on board point to a worsening situation for the crew.
At the center of the push is a letter from Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal seeking answers from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. The senator's letter points to reports of deteriorating conditions that include shortages of hygiene products, mold, broken toilets or laundry facilities, and inadequate water supplies.
The strain appears tied to how long the carrier has been at sea. According to the letter, the Lincoln left last November for what was meant to be a standard seven month deployment, but it was redirected for the war, which began in February. The carrier has now been deployed for more than 250 days.
Concern has also been growing about the roughly 5,000 service members on board. The Military Times has reported that sailors are exhausted, and a US official said an investigation is underway after a sailor went overboard last month, though the person was quickly recovered.
Some lawmakers want a broader inquiry. Democratic Congressman Seth Moulton, speaking on CNN, called for an investigation, saying it was pretty obvious the troops are not getting the mental health support they need and that it is Congress's job to get to the bottom of it. A US official said mental health services are available on board.
The Pentagon has pushed back on the reporting. Speaking to Newsmax, Hegseth said the claims had been completely misrepresented, insisting that officials make sure every ship, every crew and every captain has everything the department can provide them at every single moment.
A US official said the Lincoln is now set to be replaced by the USS George Washington as part of a long planned rotation of ships. For its part, the Navy said in a statement that the health and wellness of the sailors are a priority, adding that it has not identified an increase in reported suicidal ideation or suicide attempts aboard the ship.