Mental health crisis reported on USS Abraham Lincoln

Families of service members and members of Congress are raising alarms over a worsening mental health crisis aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. The carrier’s approximately 5,000 sailors and marines have spent over 250 consecutive days at sea without a port call, marking a modern record for a carrier deployment. This extended mission is linked to operations in the Middle East amidst tensions with Iran.

Reports from outlets including the Navy Times, Stars and Stripes, and Newsweek cite multiple accounts of sailors attempting to jump overboard, reflecting extreme psychological strain and exhaustion. The ship departed San Diego on November 21, 2025, initially heading to the Indo-Pacific before being redirected to the Indian Ocean early this year. Concerns persist regarding the crew's welfare, with relatives highlighting a lack of supplies and the physical toll of the near-nine-month deployment.

While the Pentagon has not issued a final resolution, the situation has prompted public outcry from families and legislative interest regarding the long-term sustainability of such high-tempo naval operations.