Democratic lawmakers demands answers from Hegseth on USS Abraham Lincoln

descriptions off, selected

captions settings, opens captions settings dialog

Subtitles (en), selected

This is a modal window.

Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.

End of dialog window.

Today's Top Stories - August 17, 2026

Today's Top Stories - August 17, 2026

A group of 15 senators said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth owes Americans answers about the ongoing deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group after reports of low morale and a mental health crisis among service members aboard. 

In an Aug. 15 letter to Hegseth, signed by all 13 members of the Senate Armed Services Committee minority as well as the Democratic leaders of the Senate Appropriations Committee and defense subcommittee, lawmakers demanded information about “mounting evidence that conditions aboard the carrier have deteriorated to the point that the safety and wellbeing of its crew could be compromised.”

The USS Lincoln, which departed San Diego in November, has now been deployed for more than 260 days, including more than 200 consecutive days without a port call, setting a modern-day record for continuous........

© The Hill