WASHINGTON — Eight sailors assigned to the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group attempted suicide during the vessel’s lengthy deployment, Acting US Navy Secretary Hung Cao has disclosed.
Cao made the disclosure in a letter to US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York in response to questions about the welfare and mental health of sailors serving aboard the carrier and within its strike group.
The revelation comes amid concerns raised by family members of sailors over what they described as deteriorating mental health and difficult living conditions during the prolonged deployment in the Middle East.
According to Cao, the eight sailors were drawn from the USS Abraham Lincoln crew and personnel attached to the carrier air wing, strike group and destroyer squadron staffs, escorting destroyers and embarked aviation squadrons.
The Navy said five chaplains and several mental health professionals were available during the deployment to address the spiritual and emotional needs of personnel.
The USS Abraham Lincoln, which has about 5,000 personnel aboard, had been deployed since November. Its mission was originally expected to end in May but was repeatedly extended as the security situation in the Middle East developed.
The carrier initially departed California for the South China Sea before being redirected to the Middle East ahead of US attacks on Iran in February.
The Navy has previously acknowledged supply-related challenges aboard the carrier but rejected claims that a widespread mental health crisis was occurring among its personnel.
Cao also disputed broader reports concerning poor living conditions, including widespread plumbing failures and shortages of fresh food. However, his letter acknowledged temporary localised piping failures and problems involving the ship’s reverse-osmosis desalination systems. Some meal options were also reduced for a short period.
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Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, criticised the administration’s earlier response to reports concerning conditions aboard the carrier.
She said concerns raised by service members and their families should have been taken seriously, arguing that military personnel and their families make significant sacrifices while serving the country.
The USS Abraham Lincoln has now begun its return journey to the United States after the extended deployment. In August, the USS George Washington was sent to replace the Lincoln following a nine-month deployment.
During their journey home, some sailors stopped in Thailand, where they spent time away from the ship before continuing their return to the United States.
The disclosure has renewed attention on mental health among US military personnel, particularly those serving aboard naval vessels for extended periods.
A 2025 study involving 956 sailors found that personnel aboard US Navy ships reported high levels of serious psychological distress compared with personnel in other branches of the US military. Researchers pointed to factors including difficult living conditions, noise, demanding schedules and inadequate opportunities for sleep and rest.
Suicide remains a significant concern across the US military community, while research has also documented elevated suicide risks among some veteran populations.
The Navy’s disclosure of the eight suicide attempts adds to continuing concerns about the psychological pressures faced by sailors during lengthy deployments and highlights the importance of access to mental health and support services for service members and their families.
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