Eight U.S. Navy sailors on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike group attempted suicide during an extended deployment, according to acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao.
In a Sept. 22 letter to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Cao confirmed that there had been eight suicide attempts since the Lincoln deployed in November 2025. The aircraft carrier was relieved in the Middle East last month by the USS George Washington following reports of sailors facing deteriorating conditions and mental health challenges.
The Lincoln had been operating in the waters of the Middle East since January and supported U.S. forces throughout the war with Iran after the launch of Operation Epic Fury in February. After 286 days at sea, the Lincoln arrived in Thailand for a port call on Sept. 2 before heading back to the United States. …