Concern grows over conditions on USS Abraham Lincoln - BBC News

Thousands of sailors on the USS Abraham Lincoln have reportedly faced food shortages and broken plumbing, with some considering jumping overboard.

Image source, Getty ImagesByAna Faguy and Max MatzaPublished13 August 2026Updated 14 August 2026 00:06 BSTThousands of US military members who have lived aboard an aircraft carrier for more than 250 days are reportedly contending with food shortages, broken plumbing and exhaustion, leading lawmakers to demand answers from the Pentagon and pressure the Trump administration over the Iran war.

Military news outlets reported that some USS Abraham Lincoln sailors had attempted to jump overboard, while families have raised concerns about mental health aboard the ship.

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth called reports of conditions "completely misrepresented" on Thursday.

The carrier left California in November for the South China Sea and was sent to the Middle East ahead of attacks on Iran in February.

The deployment, which was originally set to end in May, has been repeatedly extended. No return date has been announced, but on Thursday multiple outlets reported the US was preparing to replace the carrier with the USS George Washington as part of a previously scheduled rotation plan.