Several Democratic lawmakers have demanded the answers from the Pentagon and the Navy over the worsening living conditions and growing sailor safety concerns aboard USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier.
The calls for the investigation comes after the reports which claimed that multiple US service members onboard the ship had attempted to jump overboard. Even the family members of roughly 5000 sailors also raised concerns over the plummeting living and mental health conditions.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal sent a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Acting Secretary of the Navy demanding answers regarding living conditions and deployment lengths. Additionally, Rep. Seth Moulton announced that the House Armed Services Committee would launch an investigation.
“The men and women aboard the Lincoln have answered the call to serve their country,” Blumenthal wrote in his letter to the Pentagon.
“The Department owes them not only adequate supplies, maintenance, and support during this deployment.”
Around 200 family members met with senior Navy officials, including Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao and Vice Adm. Joseph Cahill, in San Diego to voice safety and mental health concerns, though officials declined to specify a return date due to operational security.
Lawmakers and family members reported severe conditions aboard the ship, including water contamination, plumbing issues, mouldy showers, broken toilets, lack of hot water, food shortages with meals reduced to minimal portions like rice and tortillas, and disruptions in the mail system.
USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier has been deployed for over 250 days since leaving San Diego last November and had not made a port call in more than 200 days. The reports regarding conditions on the carrier first surfaced in April. At that time, Navy and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth dismissed these claims as “fake news.”
“Based on information available to the command, we have not identified an increase in reported suicidal ideation or suicide attempts aboard the ship,” a U.S. Navy spokesperson told Newsweek on Wednesday, giving clarifications over the jumping reports.
“We take every service member’s well-being seriously and have religious, medical and mental health professionals available to assess and address concerns as they arise,” they added.
