USS Abraham Lincoln deployment saw eight suicide attempts, no deaths: Navy

Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao told Senator Kirsten Gillibrand that eight sailors attempted suicide during the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group's deployment. The disclosure has intensified scrutiny of crew welfare after months of reported stress, shortages and a record stretch at sea.

In Short

• Hung Cao confirmed eight suicide attempts across the Abraham Lincoln strike group
• No suicides occurred during the deployment, despite mounting reports of crew stress
• The carrier spent more than 260 days continuously at sea, a record

Eight sailors attempted suicide while deployed with the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group during its long deployment supporting the Iran war, according to a letter sent by acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand this week. Cao said there were no suicides during the deployment, which had drawn attention after reports of crew stress, poor mental health and shortages of food and hygiene products.

The Abraham Lincoln left its home port in San Diego in November, reached the Middle East in January and then spent more than 260 days at sea without a break, a record for the carrier. The ship and some supporting vessels stopped in Thailand in early September while returning to California, though its commanding officer did not say when the strike group would reach the United States.

Gillibrand, a New York Democrat, had written to Cao last month asking about the condition of the thousands of personnel in the strike group and specifically whether there had been any suicides. In his letter dated Tuesday, Cao wrote, "There have been no suicides on board during this deployment." He added, "Since the beginning of LINCOLN'S deployment, there have been a total of eight suicide attempts across the strike group - this number includes the LINCOLN crew and Sailors from the carrier wing, strike group and destroyer squadron staff, escorting destroyers, and all embarked aviation squadrons."

President Donald Trump had earlier played down reports about conditions on the Lincoln. Last month, he described the nearly nine months at sea as a "good period of time" and said that "over the years, we've had them out there much longer". In August, Trump told reporters that he had spoken to a retired admiral who said sailors had served on ships for "much longer" and that the Lincoln was "beautifully maintained and beautifully taken care of". Trump did not identify the admiral. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth had also said that reports about the Lincoln's conditions were "completely misrepresented".

Gillibrand criticised both Trump and Hegseth after Cao's letter became public. She said, "What Trump and Secretary Hegseth dismissed as fake news' turned out to be serious and deteriorating conditions for our service members." She added, "Our troops and their families make immense sacrifices every single day, yet the president dismissed them with open disrespect," and said, "That this administration can find endless taxpayer dollars for bombs, ballrooms, and billionaires, but cannot take care of our service members, is completely unacceptable."

Extended carrier deployments can put pressure on service members, keep them away from home for long periods and add strain on ships and equipment. The Navy continues to enforce a blockade on Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz, while the Trump administration has not said how it plans to wind down the war. The Abraham Lincoln strike group is now on its way back to California after a deployment marked by operational strain, supply concerns and growing questions over crew welfare.

With PTI Inputs

- Ends