US Navy confirms eight suicide attempts on USS Abraham Lincoln

The U.S. Navy has confirmed that eight sailors assigned to the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group attempted suicide during its extended deployment. Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao disclosed this information in a letter dated September 22, 2026, to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, clarifying that these attempts occurred across the entire strike group, which includes the aircraft carrier, its air wing, and escorting destroyers. Despite these attempts, Cao noted that no service members died by suicide during the deployment.

The lengthy deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group, which included over 250 consecutive days at sea supporting the U.S. war against Iran, reportedly contributed to concerns about crew morale and mental health. Reports from military publications and family members earlier highlighted issues such as food shortages, supply problems, and deteriorating mental health conditions onboard, with some instances of sailors attempting to go overboard.

Senator Gillibrand criticized initial dismissals of these concerns by some officials, who had labeled reports of a mental health crisis as "fake news". The USS Abraham Lincoln has since been relieved by the USS George Washington and is returning to its homeport in San Diego. The Navy maintains that mental health resources, including chaplains and medical personnel, were available to support the crew during their demanding time at sea.