Democrats Press Trump Administration Over USS Abraham Lincoln Conditions

WASHINGTON —

Democratic lawmakers stepped up pressure on the Trump administration Sunday over conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, an aircraft carrier that has been at sea for nearly nine months supporting the American war against Iran.

Senator Ruben Gallego of Arizona, a Democrat and retired Marine, said on ABC News's "This Week" that the administration bears responsibility for the carrier's extended time at sea. "The deep, deep, deep problem here is that this administration did not plan for this war, did not plan how to get out of this war, and did not really understand how this war was going to escalate," Gallego said, according to The Guardian. He said he had recently spoken with the spouse of a Lincoln crew member and warned that dismissive comments from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Donald Trump could push service members out of the military.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore, a Democrat and military veteran, criticized Trump's response on CNN's "State of the Union," saying, "The response of the president of United States pisses me off. And it should piss all of us off," The Guardian reported. Moore noted that Trump never served in uniform and said the president should show more compassion for families who send loved ones to war.

Reports of Overboard Attempts

The Navy Times and Stars and Stripes have reported multiple attempts by sailors to jump overboard as conditions and mental strain aboard the Lincoln worsened during its ninth month at sea, according to The Guardian. Representative Mike Levin, a California Democrat, sent a letter to Hegseth and acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao describing reports of moldy showers, broken toilets, no hot water and food shortages, along with what he called an overwhelming workload driving fatigue and burnout, CNBC reported. Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, wrote to Hegseth saying the carrier has gone more than 200 days without a port call, CBS News reported.

Hegseth has called the reports "completely misrepresented," and Trump told reporters the deployment is "not nearly long enough," according to CNBC. Cao said on social media that the Lincoln will return home soon as part of a planned rotation and that a small number of mental health cases were treated without any deaths, CBS News reported.

Republicans Join the Call

Republican Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska said Congress "should have oversight" and called for the Navy secretary or service chief to testify, CBS News reported. Bacon, a retired Air Force general, said he witnessed sailors jump overboard during his own carrier deployment in 1996. The USS George Washington left Vietnam on August 12 to relieve the Lincoln, according to CNBC. Retired Admiral Mike Mullen, a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said poor conditions had been addressed and that morale improved once sailors learned they were heading home, The Guardian reported. No exact return date has been announced.