Performing Navy Secretary Hung Cao is saluting the crew of the usAbraham Lincoln plane service after lawmakers raised considerations about circumstances throughout its lengthy deployment — saying no one died from a “small quantity” of psychological well being crises on board.
“The united statesAbraham Lincoln crushed their deployment and can return house quickly as a part of a deliberate rotation. Particulars will come however let me be clear: the security and safety of our Sailors and Marines at all times comes first,” he posted on X. “Mission accomplishment. Troop Welfare. That is how we lead.”
He wrote that “a small variety of psychological well being circumstances have been handled with no lack of life” and that “meal plans have been adjusted when recent resupply was unavailable, with out a single meal being missed.”
His letter follows experiences of dire circumstances on board for the 5,000 sailors and Marines. The Navy Instances reported final week that no less than two sailors needed to be prevented from leaping overboard, prompting Pentagon pushback.
The ship’s deployment from San Diego started Nov. 21, 2025 — exceeding the usual 6-month stint.
President Trump shrugged off considerations Friday, telling reporters, “That ship is shifting proper now, or very shortly, and it’s being changed with one other very related ship.” Requested if it was away from house too lengthy whereas the US confronts Iran, Trump responded: “No, not practically lengthy sufficient.”
Cao defended the choice to maintain the Lincoln at sea, saying “the mission demanded” an prolonged deployment.
“Deployments are laborious. Fight operations make them tougher. Conflict is hell and regular routines are disrupted,” Cao, who retired from the Navy as a captain in 2021, wrote Friday.
He accused the media of “making an attempt to color our warriors as victims,” following experiences of complaints by household of crew members and claimed it “takes away the concentrate on the enemy and the risk it poses in opposition to our nation, folks, and lifestyle.”
The he rattled off some stats concerning the ship’s deployment, as the usGeorge Washington makes its strategy to the area — 266 days deployed, 200 in a fight zone, launching 10,000 sorties and dropping 1.5 million kilos of ordnance in the course of the warfare with Iran that started in February.
“There isn’t any query our younger women and men have been pushed to their limits—however they’ve by no means damaged,” he wrote.
Lawmakers have questioned whether or not the Navy can maintain carriers deployed for such lengthy stretches with out taking a toll on sailors and fleet readiness.
“The Lincoln’s prolonged deployment raises broader questions concerning the Navy’s skill to sustainably generate service forces whereas preserving servicemember well-being, upkeep schedules, fleet readiness and the capability to reply to future contingencies,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) wrote Cao and Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth final week.
