Eight sailors in USS Lincoln strike group attempted suicide, US Navy says
The USS Abraham Lincoln, with its crew of about 5000 sailors, recently set a navy record for the longest time at sea without making a port call.
The Trump administration has confirmed that eight US service members aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, a Navy aircraft carrier, attempted suicide during its deployment to the Middle East. This revelation was made known through a letter from Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao, which was sent in response to queries from Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. The letter detailed that the attempts occurred across the strike group, but crucially, there were no confirmed suicides during this deployment.
The situation on the USS Abraham Lincoln drew significant attention due to reports of deteriorating living conditions and pervasive mental health issues. These issues arose following the carrier's deployment in November 2025, initially to the South China Sea and later rerouted to the Middle East as a result of US-Israeli attacks on Iran in late February 2026. The Lincoln was at sea for a total of 286 days before making a stopover in Thailand in early September.
Reports from military families and lawmakers raised concerns over suicide attempts and other serious mental health issues, food shortages, and poor hygiene. Initially, these claims were dismissed by then-President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
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- Eight US sailors in USS Abraham Lincoln strike group attempted suicide, Navy says bbc.co.uk
- Eight sailors in USS Lincoln strike group attempted suicide, US Navy says smh.com.au
