The top US military commander in the Middle East has said mental health is a "priority" on the USS Lincoln after reports of harsh conditions aboard the long‑deployed carrier.
After visiting the ship on Saturday, Adm. Brad Cooper noted that the Lincoln had "among the lowest number of cases related to mental health" out of eleven active US aircraft carriers.
He cautioned that Navy service at sea for extended periods is "uniquely challenging and tough", emphasizing the need for continued support.
The USS Lincoln entered the Middle East in January and has been sustaining the US stance against Iran, including the blockade of Iranian ports. It has spent a record‑setting uninterrupted time at sea of more than 240 days.
The USS George Washington is scheduled to replace the Lincoln and could arrive in the region in roughly a week.
Family members of sailors on the Lincoln have expressed concern that mental health is deteriorating due to the conditions, with reports of sailors attempting to jump overboard.
In a statement, Adm. Cooper highlighted that mental health is an aspect of individual health that requires the same attention as physical or spiritual health, praising the crew’s leadership for prioritizing resilience.
The Navy last week acknowledged supply challenges but denied a mental health crisis on the vessel, which hosts approximately 5,000 personnel.
Reports from the Military Times and Stars & Stripes cited poor sanitation, infrequent port calls, broken plumbing and shortages of fresh food.
Thirteen Democrats on the Senate Armed Services Committee sent a letter to Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth demanding answers, while President Donald Trump dismissed the seniority of the deployment by saying it was "not nearly long enough".
The deployment, initially set to conclude in May, has been repeatedly extended, and sailors have been on board for over 200 consecutive days without a port call. Maryland’s Governorship Wes Moore called the conditions "heartbreaking" and urged greater compassion from the administration.
