The USS Abraham Lincoln has been under scrutiny after reports of suicide attempts and deteriorating morale among the 5,000-person crew that has been at sea since November 21.
The Navy, U.S. Central Command and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, a former Middle Tennessee resident, have refuted the issues aboard the ship, saying reports had been "completely misrepresented," according to USA TODAY.
What is the USS Abraham Lincoln and how long has it been deployed?
The USS Abraham Lincoln, or USS Lincoln, is a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, a type of vessel that "support[s] and operate[s] aircraft that engage in attacks on airborne, afloat and ashore targets that threaten free use of the sea and engage in sustained power projection operations in support of U.S. and coalition forces," according to the U.S. Navy website.
The Lincoln was deployed on Nov. 21, 2025, from San Diego and has been in the Middle East since January, due to the U.S. war in Iran. The ship was part of President Donald Trump's Operation Epic Fury, the military action that launched the war on Feb. 28.
As of Aug. 12, the ship has been deployed for 250 days, according to a letter written by U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, urging Hegseth and Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao to take action.
What is happening on the USS Abraham Lincoln?
The naval vessel first garnered attention after the Navy Times and Stars and Stripes reported issues about the sailors' well-being and the ship's record-setting deployment. Prior to the USS Lincoln, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower held the record with 206 consecutive days at sea in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic when ports were restricted.
The reports mentioned concerns from family members and lawmakers about shortages, plumbing problems, water contamination, moldy showers, broken toilets and mail delivery disruptions.
Officials and the public intensified their criticism of the situation after a sailor went overboard on Aug. 3. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the news in an Aug. 13 X post, mentioning that the sailor was "quickly and safely recovered."
According to that same post, no service members have died.
"Over the past 48 hours, multiple media outlets have reported several false claims related to USS Abraham Lincoln's (CVN 72) deployment to the Middle East," the post also noted.
"One report alleged seven Sailors died in a brawl aboard the aircraft carrier and others have recently suggested a spike in suicidal ideations. These reports are FALSE," CENTCOM's post emphasized.
What have government officials said about the USS Abraham Lincoln?
The same day as CENTCOM's post, four California House members sent a similar letter to Hegseth and Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao, citing complaints about moldy showers, broken toilets, limited hot water, supply shortages and a lack of fresh produce, reported USA TODAY.
The day before, Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released his letter on the matter.
"There have been widespread reports of shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, plumbing issues, deteriorating mental health, deck safety concerns and disruptions in the mail system," a segment of Blumenthal's letter read.
The Navy and Hegseth have denied the claims that the mental health of the sailors is deteriorating.
"We have not observed an increase in suicidal ideations or attempts aboard the ship," the Navy said in a statement to CNN, reported by USA TODAY.
"We make sure every ship, every crew, every captain has everything we can provide them at every single moment. Some deployments are longer than others, and I have more respect and gratitude for those sailors than anybody," Hegseth told reporters during a visit to Panama on Aug. 13.
"What they do in those high seas in those austere conditions with less port calls – it's incredible."
Are there any sailors from Tennessee on the USS Abraham Lincoln?
The Navy does not publicly release current personnel rosters or manifests for vessels such as the USS Lincoln, making it difficult to determine how many sailors aboard the ship are from Tennessee.
What's next for the USS Abraham Lincoln?
A U.S. official, speaking under the condition of anonymity, told Reuters and The Wall Street Journal that the USS George Washington is sailing to the region and is expected to replace the Lincoln as part of a planned rotation, meaning the more than 250-day deployment could soon come to a close, USA TODAY reported.
Greta Cross of USA TODAY contributed to this report.
Peter Burditt covers trending news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Contact him at PBurditt@nashvill.gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: USS Abraham Lincoln problems include reports of low morale, shortages. What to know amid long deployment
