US lawmakers are pressing for an investigation into conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln after reports that sailors on the aircraft carrier attempted to jump overboard during an extended Middle East deployment linked to the conflict with Iran.
In a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal said the carrier — home to more than 5,000 sailors and Marines — has remained continuously at sea for nearly seven months, a record for a US carrier without a port call. The deployment was originally scheduled to end in May but has been extended repeatedly as fighting with Iran grinds on and a memorandum of understanding to end the hostilities has largely fallen apart, with further diplomatic efforts stalled.
Blumenthal cited reports of deteriorating mental health on board, shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, an increase in safety incidents and disruptions to mail service. He asked the Pentagon to provide a clear end date for the mission, explain how the Navy is measuring mental health metrics, and clarify how the deployment fits into broader strategic goals.
Senator Ruben Gallego, also a Democrat, called for a bipartisan congressional delegation to visit the ship, saying such delegations have visited war zones before to inspect conditions for troops and there is no reason to be denied access. Senator Mark Kelly, a former naval officer and astronaut, described the overboard reports as “disturbing” and said long deployments are much harder when the mission is not well defined and there is no end in sight.
The accounts first emerged through Navy Times and Stars and Stripes, which quoted family members of crew aboard the vessel. One wife, Annabelle Loma, said her husband attempted to jump overboard amid severe burnout. Another woman, Maria Rodriguez, said her husband intervened in a separate incident where a shipmate was “preparing to go overboard.” The issue was also raised at a town hall event last week with acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao in San Diego, where the carrier last departed in November 2025. CNN separately reported that a sailor went overboard last month and was quickly rescued, though the circumstances were unclear.
Hegseth dismissed the reports as “completely misrepresented,” insisting the military provides everything it can to every ship and crew, and expressing gratitude for sailors serving in austere conditions with fewer port calls. The Navy did not immediately respond to Al Jazeera’s request for comment, but told Stars and Stripes that leadership is continuously conducting assessments to monitor and sustain the psychological readiness of every sailor.