Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth says conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln have been ‘completely misrepresented’ amid reports of crew burnout
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said reports of deteriorating conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln had been “completely misrepresented,” as concerns grow over the aircraft carrier’s record-breaking deployment. The roughly 5,000 sailors and Marines on board the vessel have spent more than 250 days at sea after the ship was redirected to the Middle East amid the United States’ military offensive against Iran.
The Pentagon’s response came after military families, lawmakers and others raised questions about morale, living conditions and the reported mental-health crisis on board the USS Abraham Lincoln.
Conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln ‘completely misrepresented’
Speaking to reporters on August 13, Hegseth defended the Navy’s handling of the deployment, arguing that the conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln had been “completely misrepresented,” and said that he wanted U.S. ships rotated as quickly as operational requirements allowed. He also said the Pentagon was providing ships and crews with everything available while acknowledging the strain of prolonged deployments. “We make sure every ship, every crew, every captain has everything we can provide them at every single moment,” he said. “Some deployments are longer than others, and I have more respect and gratitude for those sailors than anybody. What they do in those high seas in those austere conditions with less port calls is incredible.”
Hegseth added that Americans often do not understand what extended deployments at sea demand from service members. His comments came after he had previously dismissed concerns about conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln as “fake news.”
Families describe deteriorating conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln
The USS Abraham Lincoln left its home port of San Diego on November 21, 2025, originally bound for the Pacific. It was subsequently redirected to the Middle East as the U.S. and Israel launched attacks against Iran in February, placing the carrier at the center of a prolonged military operation.
The ship has made very few port calls during the deployment, with reports indicating that its crew has spent more than 250 days continuously at sea. The extended deployment has prompted complaints about exhaustion, shortages of basic supplies, water and plumbing problems, disrupted mail deliveries and deteriorating morale. At a San Diego town hall attended by roughly 200 family members of those aboard the vessel, one spouse reportedly told Navy officials that her husband had messaged her, saying that “he hopes he doesn’t wake up tomorrow.”
Lawmakers raise alarm as well
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, has demanded answers about reports of supply shortages, water contamination, plumbing problems, mental health concerns and disruptions to mail. California Rep. Mike Levin separately said families had described dismal living conditions on board the vessel, citing “moldy showers, broken toilets, no hot water for weeks, meals that came down to half a cup of rice and two tortillas.” He also pointed out Hegseth’s “fake news” comment, saying, “When families spoke up in April, Secretary Hegseth brushed it off as ‘fake news,’ but these service members aren’t lying to the people who love them. They answered the highest call there is, and this is how they are being treated?” Meanwhile, Democratic Rep. Seth Moulton, a Marine veteran, called the reports “horrific” and promised Congress will investigate.
Republican Rep. Don Bacon said prolonged deployments are “excruciatingly difficult” for service members and their families, while thanking the USS Abraham Lincoln’s sailors for their service. “Long deployments are hard on the service members and their families. I remember our soldiers doing 18-month tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, and it was excruciatingly difficult,” he told Newsweek. “I am glad the USS Abraham Lincoln will soon be replaced by the USS George Washington. I thank the sailors for their service and clearly their sacrifice. Our aircraft carriers are indispensable to our national security and to countering Iran in the Strait of Hormuz.”
Navy disputes reports of rising mental health concerns
Several media outlets have described alleged attempts by sailors to jump overboard. According to reports, one sailor went overboard on August 3 but was rescued within an hour, medically evaluated and transferred from the ship for follow-up care. However, the Navy has disputed claims that mental health incidents have increased aboard the aircraft carrier. “Based on information available to the command, we have not identified an increase in reported suicidal ideation or suicide attempts aboard the ship,” a Navy spokesperson said. “We take every service member’s well-being seriously and have religious, medical and mental health professionals available to assess and address concerns as they arise.”
USS George Washington set to relieve USS Abraham Lincoln
According to reports, the Navy is preparing to send the USS George Washington, a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, to the Middle East to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln. The carrier had completed a port visit in Vietnam on August 5 and was already scheduled for the deployment.
Unlike most American aircraft carriers, the USS George Washington has a permanent assignment in the Pacific and operates as the Navy’s forward-deployed carrier supporting the 7th Fleet. The Navy regards the vessel as a key demonstration of Washington’s commitment to a “free and open Indo-Pacific.” Reports have pointed out that its relocation to the Middle East to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln will shift a significant U.S. naval asset away from Asia at a time when Washington is simultaneously managing security concerns involving China, North Korea, Iran and other regional conflicts.