Fourth Nimitz-class carrier; named for the 26th U.S. president
Families and lawmakers have raised alarms about living conditions and mental health aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been continuously at sea since November and has not made a port call for more than 240 days. Reports have cited food shortages, plumbing failures, water contamination and multiple attempted overboard incidents; senators have asked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for answers.
The USS Abraham Lincoln has made a brief port call at Laem Chabang, Thailand, allowing about 5,000 sailors and Marines to rest after a record, months-long deployment supporting US operations against Iran. Thai authorities are managing transport, security and restrictions in Pattaya while US officials deny widespread failures in shipboard conditions.
The USS Theodore Roosevelt is preparing to depart San Diego as the Navy applies lessons from Lincoln and Ford deployments. Caudle says Roosevelt is maximizing logistics and improving quality-of-life measures amid ongoing US-Iran tensions, with a focus on self-sufficiency and better communication with families.
The USS Theodore Roosevelt has left San Diego and is headed toward the Middle East. Officials say the move could allow three carrier strike groups in the region, but no final destination has been decided yet. Bloomberg reports a broader buildup could accompany such a deployment.