What happened
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is set to welcome the crew of the USS Abraham Lincoln back to the United States after an extended deployment in the Middle East. The aircraft carrier, which has been at sea for 320 days, will arrive in San Diego with roughly 5,000 sailors and Marines on board.
The Lincoln was deployed from San Diego on November 21, 2025, and spent several months operating in the Middle East, providing support for US forces during the conflict with Iran. The ship was relieved by the USS George Washington in August after reports of deteriorating conditions and mental health challenges among the crew.
Despite these challenges, Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao praised the sailors assigned to the Lincoln strike group, saying they showed exceptional resolve under demanding conditions. Cao also acknowledged that there were eight suicide attempts by US Navy sailors on the Lincoln and its supporting strike group during its deployment.
Hegseth will participate in physical training, eat lunch with military members, and speak with the Lincoln's crew as part of the welcome ceremony. The visit comes after a bipartisan delegation of US lawmakers visited the Lincoln at sea in September to conduct oversight of conditions on board.
