A top U.S. admiral has acknowledged there have been mental health issues aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln amid reports of deteriorating conditions aboard the vessel.
U.S. Central Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said on X on Sunday that while he believed the boat had “among the lowest number of cases related to mental health” not everything was “perfect.”
His response comes amid scrutiny of the duration of the vessel’s deployment, while other military officials and even President Donald Trump himself have shunned criticism—with the president telling reporters the deployment is “not nearly long enough”
“Here’s an important fact: Of the U.S. Navy’s 11 active aircraft carriers, the Lincoln currently has among the lowest number of cases related to mental health,” Cooper said following his visit to the ship. “This doesn’t mean that all is perfect. Find any of the nearly 4 million Navy veterans in America today, and they will likely tell you that service at sea for long periods isn’t for everyone.”
He made his comments as lawmakers and media outlets have raised concerns about conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has 5,000 sailors and Marines on board and has been at sea for nine months. It has been in combat with Iran for more than five months, spending 250 days in a row without making land—leaving those on board without the opportunity to see their families and friends.
At least one sailor has attempted to jump overboard, and other sailors are experiencing other issues with their mental health, according to multiple reports. Such reported issues aboard the ship involve suffering from exhaustion, suicidal thoughts and low morale.
Naval families have also said there are safety concerns, food shortages, water contamination, and disruption in the mail system on the ship, according to reports.
Cooper called his visit “awe-inspiring” and said he had witnessed “camaraderie, teamwork and resilience.”
He also called service at sea “uniquely challenging and tough,” adding that mental health “requires our attention just like physical health and spiritual health.”
“I applaud Lincoln’s leadership — the senior enlisted leaders in the Chief Petty Officers Mess in particular — for stepping up and making mental health and crew resilience a leadership priority.”
Hegseth’s Response
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed back on reports about the USS Abraham Lincoln.
“We make sure that every ship, every crew, every captain has everything we can provide them at every single moment,” Hegseth said. “Some deployments are longer than others, and I have more respect and gratitude for those sailors than anybody.
As senior officials continue monitoring the situation aboard the USS Abram Lincoln, the USS George Washington is heading to the Middle East and is expected to replace it, according to multiple reports.
The USS George Washington was near Malaysia on Thursday and could arrive in the Middle East in roughly nine days, according to the BBC.
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