Acting Navy Secretary says eight sailors on USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group attempted suicide

Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao told a Senate Democrat this week that eight sailors assigned to the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group attempted suicide while the unit was deployed. Cao said the figure spans sailors serving on the carrier itself, members of its carrier air wing, and personnel assigned elsewhere in the strike group.

The incidents occurred during a lengthy deployment that, Cao noted, included military operations directed at Iran. The exact timing of each suicide attempt and any details about the sailors involved were not disclosed in the statement reported.

Cao’s disclosure came amid congressional interest in the well-being and readiness of forward-deployed naval forces. Lawmakers and Navy officials have in recent months examined the stresses associated with extended deployments, especially when operations occur in high-tension regions.

Beyond the number of attempts and the units affected, further information about causes, medical or command responses, and any ongoing investigations was not provided in the material reported. Officials have previously said the Navy tracks and responds to suicide attempts and deaths, but this specific disclosure focused on the count tied to the Lincoln strike group's recent deployment.