Retired Adm. Mike Mullen, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated Sunday that the reality of reported mental health issues on the USS Abraham Lincoln is likely "somewhere in the middle" of competing accounts. Mullen, appearing on ABC’s "This Week," expressed concern regarding the carrier's conditions following media reports and official responses to the vessel's extended deployment.
The USS Abraham Lincoln, carrying approximately 5,000 sailors and Marines, has been deployed since November 21. The U.S. Navy extended the mission to support the ongoing conflict with Iran. Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao recently announced the carrier would return to San Diego soon as part of a planned rotation, to be replaced by the USS George Washington.
Families of service members have alleged that multiple sailors attempted to jump overboard during the deployment, which has exceeded 260 days. In contrast, President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have denied any increase in suicide attempts. Secretary Hegseth stated that media accounts have misrepresented the situation, while Acting Secretary Cao acknowledged a "small" number of mental health cases were treated without loss of life.
Mullen attributed the length of the deployment to a shortage of safe bases in the Middle East following Iranian attacks on U.S. installations in Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates. He also noted that the Navy currently operates 11 aircraft carriers, one fewer than the 12 he advocated for in the early 2000s. Mullen stated that the current fleet size leads to a "sacrifice of the future" when ships are deployed for extended periods without rest and relaxation opportunities.
The situation has created a public disagreement between military families and the highest levels of the U.S. government. Families will notice the impact in the immediate term as the carrier is scheduled for a "planned rotation" to return to San Diego, though a specific date for their arrival has not been publicly released. The crew will be replaced by the USS George Washington, shifting the operational burden to a new group of naval personnel.
This event sets a precedent for how the U.S. Navy manages its limited fleet of 11 aircraft carriers during active conflict. If deployments continue to be extended due to a lack of safe harbor, it may influence future policy regarding fleet size and shipbuilding requirements. Acting Secretary Cao noted that the crew already experienced changes to their daily lives, such as adjusted meal plans and restricted phone calls home due to high operational threats. The next steps involve the formal handover of duties to the USS George Washington and the Lincoln's transit back to its home port.