Congressional Democrats are demanding answers from the US Navy over reports of deteriorating conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, including food shortages, plumbing failures, water contamination and growing mental health concerns among sailors and Marines.
In a letter sent Wednesday to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Senator Richard Blumenthal urged the Navy to provide an explanation of the conditions aboard the aircraft carrier, which has reportedly spent more than 250 days deployed and over 200 consecutive days at sea without returning to port — a record for the vessel.
Blumenthal expressed concern over the prolonged deployment and cited reports of shortages of basic supplies, contaminated water, malfunctioning plumbing, declining mental health, deck safety problems and other issues affecting the crew.
Senator Ruben Gallego separately called for an official oversight visit by a bipartisan Senate delegation to the USS Abraham Lincoln to investigate what he described as alarming conditions aboard the carrier.
Families Raise Concerns Over Crew Conditions
The USS Abraham Lincoln left San Diego, California, on November 21, 2025, initially for operations in the South China Sea. The carrier was later redirected to the Middle East ahead of US-Israeli attacks on Iran that began on February 28.
According to reports, tensions escalated during two recent meetings between Navy leadership and family members of sailors and Marines serving aboard the carrier.
Families reportedly raised concerns about shortages of food and other essential supplies while demanding answers about when their relatives would be able to return home. The carrier has approximately 5,000 sailors and Marines on board.
Some family members also reported serious mental health problems among crew members, including alleged suicide attempts.
Gallego said reports of crew members threatening to jump from the ship should be viewed as a serious warning about the conditions aboard the carrier. He cited allegations of moldy showers, unreliable hot water, rationed meals and soap, broken toilets and exhausting 12- to 16-hour work shifts without days off.
The Arizona senator, who previously served on active duty, said the reported conditions raised serious concerns about the well-being and safety of US service members.
The US Navy had not immediately responded to an AFP request for comment on the allegations.
