About 5,000 US sailors live on the USS Abraham Lincoln. The aircraft carrier left California in November. It first went to the South China Sea. The US later sent it to the Middle East before attacks on Iran in February. The ship was going to return in May, but the US military kept it at sea. It has now been away for more than 250 days.

Sailors and their families say life on the ship is very hard. They report little fresh food, broken toilets, dirty showers, and problems with washing clothes. Some sailors also had no hot water or basic items like soap and toothpaste. Families say many sailors feel very tired and have mental health problems. One sailor went into the sea earlier this month. A helicopter saved the sailor, who later received medical care.

US senators Richard Blumenthal and Ruben Gallego want answers from Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. Gallego also wants members of Congress to visit the ship. Hegseth says the reports do not show the full situation. The Navy says sailors have clean water, air conditioning, and healthy meals. It says fighting has made it harder to bring supplies. The US may soon send the USS George Washington to replace the ship, but it has not announced a return date.