US Admiral Urges Mental‑Health Priority on USS Lincoln

Admiral Brad Cooper, the top US commander in the Middle East, stressed mental health as a "priority" on the carrier USS Abraham Lincoln after a visit on Saturday.

The carrier, which arrived in the region in January, has sailed more than 240 days without port calls, enforcing strict lockdowns and limiting supplies. Reported issues include broken plumbing, poor sanitation and shortages of fresh food, adding to crew stress.

Cooper said the ship had the lowest number of mental‑health cases among 11 active carriers but acknowledged that "long periods at sea are uniquely challenging and tough."

Officials deny a mental‑health crisis, yet families of sailors have raised concerns that stress has worsened, with some crew members reportedly attempting to jump overboard. Seven senators have sent letters urging the Defence Secretary to review the extension, while President Donald Trump dismissed the length as "not nearly long enough."

The Navy is set to replace the Lincoln with USS George Washington, which could arrive in the region in about a week.

Learn more: USS George Washington will replace USS Lincoln