USS Lincoln's prolonged deployment sparks military readiness debate

Conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln have sparked a political debate over military readiness and the management of the ongoing war with Iran, after reports emerged of sailors facing mental health crises and attempting to abandon ship during an unusually prolonged deployment. The aircraft carrier, which departed San Diego in November 2025, has been on station for more than eight months and has spent over 200 consecutive days at sea without a port call, far exceeding its originally expected May rotation.

Multiple sailors have reportedly attempted to go overboard in the Arabian Sea, with accounts from families describing exhaustion and despair. The Pentagon has confirmed sending the USS George Washington to relieve the Lincoln but stated it will take approximately three weeks for the replacement force to arrive from the Pacific Ocean. The situation has intensified political clashes, with Democrats citing it as evidence of failures by the Trump administration, while the White House and some Republicans have pushed back against the reports and defended wartime demands.

Families and veterans have described dire conditions, including shortages of basic supplies, spoiled food,...