US senators express concern about conditions on aircraft carriers in the war against Iran
Parliamentarians from the Democratic Party in the United States expressed concern about the prolonged operation of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln on the high seas, with the crew facing precarious housing conditions and a shortage of moments of rest, after a mission that has already exceeded eight and a half months. The situation gained prominence on August 14, 2026, with increasing criticism about human and material exhaustion.
With a team of approximately 5,000 sailors and a base in San Diego, the USS Abraham Lincoln participates in American operations in the Middle East, focused on containing Iran.
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In official correspondence sent to Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense, and Hung Cao, Acting Secretary of the Navy, Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, representing Connecticut, detailed a series of problems identified on board the vessel.
Senator Richard Blumenthal listed issues such as “widespread reports of shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, plumbing problems, deteriorating mental health, safety concerns on deck and disruptions in the postal system, which caused many humanitarian aid packages en route to the ship to be lost for months.” The parliamentarian noted that many of these difficulties had already been reported by specialized publications.
Blumenthal further mentioned that Donald Trump’s administration frequently extended aircraft carrier missions beyond the conventional period, citing the pressure campaign on Venezuela and the military operation against Iran.
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Ruben Gallego, Democratic senator from Arizona, announced in a recent social media post that he has filed a request for a one-day visit to Lincoln, accompanied by a delegation of legislators from both parties.
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Gallego, who served in combat as a Marine, criticized the former president’s stance, stating, “Unlike Donald Trump, I have seen active military service. The way he is treating our military while waging this illegal war is not just disgusting; it is dangerous.”
The US Navy is preparing to send the aircraft carrier George Washington to the Middle East, where it will take over from the Lincoln, according to information from an American officer who preferred not to be identified because he was not authorized to publicly discuss the naval schedule.
In contrast, Pete Hegseth refuted claims about adverse conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.
“We guarantee that each ship, each crew, each captain has everything we can offer at every moment”, declared the secretary to journalists, during a visit to Panama. He added: “Some missions are longer than others, and I have more respect and gratitude for these sailors than anyone else. What they do on the high seas, in these austere conditions and with fewer port calls is incredible.”
Furthermore, another aircraft carrier, the USS George H.W. Bush, was sent on March 31 and is already in operation in the Middle East region.
