Hegset denied reports of harsh conditions aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hagseth stated that reports of difficult service conditions and morale issues among the crew of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Persian Gulf region had been “completely distorted.” He told reporters this during a visit to Panama, according to Deutsche Welle.
The USS Abraham Lincoln, which has about 5,000 service members on board, departed from San Diego in November for a planned deployment in the Pacific Ocean. The ship was subsequently redeployed to the Middle East to participate in Operation Epic Fury. Since January, the aircraft carrier has been stationed in the Persian Gulf or the broader region amid the conflict with Iran.
According to Hegset, the command is trying to provide every ship, crew, and captain with everything they need. He acknowledged that some deployments last longer than others and commended the sailors’ work under difficult conditions and with fewer port calls.
At the same time, the Navy Times and Stars and Stripes, citing relatives of sailors and crew members, reported food rationing, water shortages, laundry problems, and declining morale. Stars and Stripes also quoted a sailor who claimed that watch officers stopped a crew member while he was attempting to jump overboard. According to the publication, some of the problems with supplies and mail delivery were subsequently resolved.
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The ship’s deployment included 40 days of continuous combat operations in the U.S. Fifth Fleet’s area of responsibility and 250 consecutive days at sea. In July, the USS Abraham Lincoln made a brief port call in Oman, where it restocked supplies, including fresh fruits and vegetables. Sailors were allowed to leave the ship only within the port’s secure zone. Prior to that, the aircraft carrier had made a brief stop in Guam in December.
Arizona Senator Rubén Gallego called for a bipartisan Senate delegation to be sent to the aircraft carrier to investigate the “alarming conditions.” Senator Richard Blumenthal also demanded an explanation from the U.S. Navy, citing reports of shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, plumbing malfunctions, deteriorating mental health, and safety issues on deck.
Reuters, citing an unnamed U.S. official, reported that the aircraft carrier USS George Washington is heading to the region to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln. The Wall Street Journal also published a similar report. Hegset, for his part, stated that the U.S. Navy could maintain the blockade of Iranian ports indefinitely by rotating ships.
