Eight USS Abraham Lincoln Personnel Attempted Suicide During Extended Deployment

WASHINGTON: Eight US military personnel associated with the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln attempted suicide during its extended deployment, according to a letter from Acting US Navy Secretary Hung Cao to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.

The disclosure came after Gillibrand raised questions about the welfare and conditions of personnel serving aboard the carrier during its prolonged deployment in the Middle East.

The USS Abraham Lincoln had been deployed since November and remained in the region amid US military operations linked to the war involving Iran. The carrier is now returning to the United States.

Eight Suicide Attempts Reported

In his letter, Cao said eight personnel attempted suicide during the deployment.

The personnel were not limited to the carrier’s crew. They also included members of the carrier air wing, strike group, destroyers and other supporting units.

Cao said the Navy had provided five chaplains and multiple mental-health professionals to address the spiritual and psychological needs of personnel during the mission.

The US Navy has previously acknowledged some logistical difficulties during the deployment but rejected the characterization of the carrier as experiencing a major mental-health crisis.

Navy Defends Conditions Aboard Carrier

Cao said reports about broken plumbing systems and severe shortages of fresh food had been exaggerated.

However, he acknowledged problems involving pipeline failures, issues with systems used to convert seawater into drinking water and limited food choices for periods of time.

The acting Navy secretary said operational demands had placed significant pressure on personnel but maintained that the Navy had continued to provide support to the crew.

The US Navy has also said the USS Abraham Lincoln completed an extended deployment and was returning home as part of a planned rotation.

Senator Questions Treatment of Personnel

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand criticised the Trump administration’s earlier response to concerns surrounding the deployment, saying issues described as misinformation involved serious and continuing problems affecting service members.

The USS Abraham Lincoln departed California in November. Its deployment, initially expected to end in May, was extended several times because of operational requirements.

In August, the USS George Washington was sent to the Middle East after completing a nine-month deployment, replacing the Abraham Lincoln in the region.

Mental Health Concerns Among US Military Personnel

The disclosure has renewed attention on mental-health pressures faced by US military personnel during prolonged deployments.

Research published in January 2025 examining 956 Navy personnel found that sailors serving aboard ships can face significant psychological stress associated with factors including poor living conditions, persistent noise, demanding duty schedules and inadequate rest.

The latest disclosure adds to wider concerns over the physical and psychological pressures associated with extended naval deployments.