The US aircraft carrier is set to return home after an extended West Asia mission, as lawmakers and families raise concerns over sailor welfare, mental health and prolonged time at sea.

USS Abraham Lincoln Set to Return Home

The USS Abraham Lincoln is set to return to the United States after an extraordinary 266-day deployment, including around 200 days in a combat zone, US Navy officials said. The carrier’s prolonged mission has drawn increasing scrutiny over the conditions faced by its approximately 5,000 sailors and Marines.

Acting US Navy Secretary Hung Cao said the carrier would return soon as part of a planned rotation. The deployment has become one of the longest recent missions for a US aircraft carrier.

Carrier Spent More Than 250 Days Deployed

The Lincoln left San Diego in November 2025 for what was initially a Pacific deployment. It was later redirected to West Asia amid the conflict with Iran and spent months supporting US military operations.

The carrier has been at sea for more than 250 days and has gone more than 200 days without a port call, a period that has raised questions about the sustainability of such a prolonged deployment.

Sailor Welfare Comes Under Scrutiny

The extended deployment has triggered concerns among sailors’ families and some US lawmakers. Reports have cited shortages of food and water, disruptions to mail services, plumbing problems and periods when sailors had limited access to basic supplies.

Families also say long working hours and the lack of regular opportunities to go ashore have contributed to declining morale and increased stress among crew members.

Mental Health Concerns Raise Alarm

Mental health has emerged as one of the most serious issues surrounding the deployment. Reports from US military media and other outlets have described incidents involving sailors attempting to go overboard, prompting families and lawmakers to demand greater attention to the crew’s wellbeing.

The US Navy has maintained that mental-health support is available aboard the carrier, including medical professionals, counsellors and chaplains. Navy officials have also disputed suggestions that there has been a confirmed increase in suicidal ideation among the crew.

Lawmakers Demand Answers

The conditions aboard the Lincoln have prompted congressional scrutiny. Lawmakers have sought explanations from the Pentagon and Navy leadership over the length of the deployment and the reported difficulties faced by sailors.

Families of crew members also held discussions with Navy officials in San Diego, where concerns were raised about mental health, food supplies, sanitation and the lack of port visits.

Trump Dismisses Deployment Concerns

US President Donald Trump has pushed back against criticism of the carrier’s extended mission. On Friday, he dismissed suggestions that the deployment had lasted too long, saying it was “not nearly long enough.”

Trump also confirmed that the Lincoln would be replaced by another aircraft carrier as part of the rotation in the region.

USS George Washington to Take Over

The USS George Washington is being moved into the region to relieve the Abraham Lincoln. The replacement is intended to allow the Lincoln and its crew to begin the journey home after months of sustained operations.

Cao said the Lincoln had carried out more than 10,000 sorties and dropped about 1.5 million pounds of ordnance during its deployment. He acknowledged the pressure placed on the crew while defending their performance.

The carrier’s return will bring an end to an unusually long deployment, but questions over sailor welfare, deployment planning and the demands placed on US naval forces are likely to continue.