Families of sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln are expressing anger and frustration after President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth disputed reports about difficult conditions faced by the carrier’s crew during its extended deployment.
According to USA TODAY, some family members say their loved ones have described serious challenges aboard the ship, including limited food supplies, shortages of hygiene products and worsening mental health. The carrier has reportedly remained deployed in the Middle East for more than 200 days without a port visit.
One Navy machinist aboard the Lincoln reportedly told her family that she feared missing her son’s college graduation. The carrier had originally been expected to return in May, but the deployment continued as the conflict involving Iran stretched on.
Her sister, Tameka Kyles, told USA TODAY that the extended deployment has been particularly difficult for families who expected their relatives to return home earlier. She and another family member requested anonymity for their loved ones because of concerns about possible repercussions.
The concerns come after reports that some crew members have struggled with their mental health. Trump and Hegseth, however, have rejected descriptions of poor conditions and low morale aboard the carrier, characterizing some reports as exaggerated or inaccurate.
On Aug. 20, U.S. Central Command announced that the USS George Washington had arrived in the Arabian Sea, while reports indicated that the Lincoln was heading back toward San Diego.
For families, the issue remains deeply personal as they await the return of sailors who have spent months away from home.