Washington — Senate Democrats have called for answers regarding the conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln amid reports of food shortages, broken plumbing, and mental health challenges during the carrier's record-setting deployment.

In a letter addressed to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao, Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut highlighted that the USS Abraham Lincoln has been deployed for more than 250 days, with over 200 consecutive days at sea without coming ashore, setting a new record.

Blumenthal expressed concern over widespread reports of shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, plumbing issues, deteriorating mental health, and deck safety concerns aboard the ship.

A Navy official told CBS News that the Lincoln is operating in a highly contested environment where traditional supply hubs in the Middle East were disrupted by combat actions. As a result, leadership prioritized mission-critical supplies in the order of food, hygiene items, and mail.

The USS Abraham Lincoln was initially deployed last year for duty in the South China Sea but was rerouted to the Middle East before U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran began in February.

Family members of the approximately 5,000 sailors and Marines aboard the carrier have recently clashed with Navy leadership over the difficult conditions, including food shortages, demanding to know when their loved ones will return home, according to MSNOW.

Representative Ruben Gallego of Arizona urged on social media that the Navy must allow a bipartisan Congressional Delegation to visit the USS Lincoln to conduct an oversight investigation into the situation.

The Navy official also stated to CBS News that, based on available information, there has been no identified increase in reported suicidal ideation or suicide attempts aboard the ship. The Lincoln is providing a comprehensive support network, including deployment-resilience counselors, chaplains, Fleet and Family Support Center services, Military OneSource, and medical professionals.

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