US commander says mental health a ‘priority’ on USS Lincoln

Top US military commander Adm Brad Cooper has emphasized mental health as a "priority" on the USS Lincoln warship, following reports of challenging conditions onboard. After touring the vessel on Saturday, Cooper stated that it "had among the lowest number of cases related to mental health" among 11 active US aircraft carriers. However, he acknowledged that long periods at sea were "uniquely challenging and tough" for Navy personnel.

The USS Lincoln arrived in the Middle East in January and has been supporting US operations against Iran, including the blockade on Iranian ports. It has maintained an unprecedented uninterrupted time at sea of over 240 days. The USS George Washington is expected to replace the Lincoln and could arrive in the region within a week.

Family members of sailors on the Lincoln have raised concerns about their mental health deteriorating due to the harsh conditions, and some sailors have reportedly attempted to jump overboard. Cooper praised the ship's leadership for prioritizing mental health and crew resilience. The US Navy had earlier denied a mental health crisis on the Lincoln, citing supply challenges, but did acknowledge the ship's issues, including poor sanitation, infrequent port visits, broken plumbing, and shortages of fresh food.

Thirteen Democrats on the Senate Armed Services Committee recently wrote a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, criticizing the lengthy deployment and demanding answers. Last week, Hegseth dismissed the reports of poor conditions as "completely misrepresented," while President Donald Trump had previously called the sailors' time at sea "not nearly long enough."

The USS Lincoln deployment, initially scheduled to end in May, has been extended multiple times, with personnel reportedly at sea without a port call for over 200 consecutive days. Maryland's Democratic Governor Wes Moore, a US Army veteran, called the reported conditions "heartbreaking" and urged President Trump to show more compassion.