Several Democratic lawmakers are demanding answers about the deteriorating living conditions and worsening mental health of sailors on the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been deployed for over 250 days.
Concerns Raised by Families
Families of sailors on the ship have raised concerns about the impacts of the lengthy deployment, including shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, and plumbing issues.
According to reports, there have been multiple attempts by crew members to jump overboard, citing interviews with sailors and families of those on board who described the impacts of the lengthy deployment.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut and a member of the Armed Services Committee, wrote to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Acting Secretary of the Navy to express “serious concern” about the increasing length of deployments and demand answers about living conditions aboard the carrier.
Response from the Navy
The US Navy said in a statement that it has not observed an increase in suicidal ideations or attempts aboard the ship, but acknowledged the strain on sailors and their families.
Democratic Rep. Mike Levin of California referenced a meeting with families of Lincoln crew members, where they described “moldy showers, broken toilets, no hot water for weeks, meals that came down to half a cup of rice and two tortillas.”
The Navy Times also quoted the wife of one serviceman aboard the Lincoln, who said her husband had tried to jump overboard during the current deployment.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
