Sailors Endured Rotten Food and Mold at Sea for 260 Days — Now the Navy Is Answering for It

A Record Deployment Turns Into a Crisis

The crew of the USS Abraham Lincoln logged a record 250 consecutive days underway without a port call, as the San Diego-based carrier remained on an extended Middle East deployment supporting operations against Iran. What began as a routine mission has since become one of the most scrutinized deployments in modern naval history — not just for what the ship accomplished, but for what its sailors allegedly endured to get there.

The nuclear-powered vessel left home on November 21, 2025, for what was expected to be a seven-month mission. The Abraham Lincoln, flagship of Carrier Strike Group 3, carries roughly 5,000 sailors and Marines. Originally deployed to the Pacific region, it was ordered to the Middle East at the start of the year. The crew had expected to return home in May, but the war in Iran changed those plans.

Rotten Food, Moldy Showers, and Sailors Going Overboard

According to interviews with a dozen family members of crew members, those aboard the ship have been dealing with moldy showers and running out of key toiletries, such as toothpaste, deodorant, and soap. There have also been reports of a lack of fresh food on board and moldy showers, among other issues. The picture painted by families and sailors is one of a crew pushed well past its limits.

A sailor went overboard earlier this month off of the USS Abraham Lincoln, three U.S. officials confirmed, amid reports of worsening mental health for crew members on the ship during the extended deployment. Families of sailors serving on the ship have told media outlets that several crew members have tried to jump overboard or have been stopped from doing so in recent months. Some sailors described low morale, repetitive work, and 12-to-16-hour days with almost no time off — calling it "Groundhog Day."

The Top Commander Pays a Visit

The top officer for U.S. Central Command visited the USS Abraham Lincoln on Saturday, August 15, as families of sailors continued to report poor conditions and low morale. Adm. Brad Cooper's visit was part of a 10-day tour in the region, meeting with troops, commanders, and allies in the Middle East. He spent several hours on the ship — notably the only ship he visited during the entire tour.

Cooper praised the crew in a statement, saying, "The Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is a strong team of high-achieving Americans standing tall with immense, justified pride in everything they accomplished." He added, "History will record this deployment as one of the most operationally intense and consequential of the modern era." The senior U.S. officer overseeing the war in Iran said Sunday that addressing mental health concerns is a high priority for the military. Meanwhile, congressional Democrats have pressed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Trump administration for more information about the mental and physical states of the crew members.

Heading Home — and What Comes Next

The Lincoln has played a key defensive role in the war against Iran, having shot down "hundreds and hundreds of missiles" and drone attacks that targeted the vessel, according to Hegseth. The ship was announced to be coming home as part of a planned rotation, with the USS George Washington taking its position. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has said the U.S. can maintain the naval blockade on Iran indefinitely by simply swapping out aircraft carriers.

The episode has exposed the difficulty of maintaining a global carrier presence while keeping crews rested and ships properly supplied. Rep. Sara Jacobs of California said the Lincoln's crew was "going through hell" and described the reported poor conditions as "a personnel issue and a national security risk." As the Lincoln finally turns toward home, the debate over how long the U.S. military can sustain its sailors — not just its ships — in a prolonged conflict is only beginning.