CENTCOM chief: Lincoln has lowest mental health cases in fleet

CENTCOM chief defends carrier conditions

Adm. Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, said on Sunday that the USS Abraham Lincoln maintains among the lowest rates of mental health incidents across the Navy's active carrier fleet. "Of the U.S. Navy's 11 active aircraft carriers, the Lincoln currently has among the lowest number of cases related to mental health," Cooper said in a statement issued after he visited the aircraft carrier, pushing back against growing scrutiny of deployment conditions.

Cooper acknowledged that this "doesn't mean that all is perfect," noting that extended tours at sea remain "uniquely challenging" and that individuals respond differently to stress. He described the crew's resilience and teamwork as "awe-inspiring," according to the statement released by CENTCOM.

Congressional scrutiny over sailor welfare

Cooper's remarks came after House Democrats dispatched a letter to Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao citing "deeply troubling reports" regarding the welfare of sailors aboard the Lincoln and the physical condition of the ship. Family members have also voiced concerns about conditions on the vessel, while some reports have alleged that sailors attempted to jump overboard due to extreme circumstances.

The statement from the CENTCOM chief landed as the Pentagon prepares to rotate the USS Abraham Lincoln out of service and deploy the USS George Washington to replace it. The replacement follows sustained questions about the impact of prolonged deployments on crew mental health and readiness levels.