Tell Hegseth: Stop Pushing Sailors Past the Breaking Point

Thousands of sailors and Marines aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln have been stuck at sea for months because their deployment was redirected for Trump’s war with Iran. Now their families say the strain is becoming unbearable.

The Lincoln has spent more than 240 consecutive days at sea. Families and lawmakers have raised alarms about shortages, broken plumbing, poor sanitation, exhaustion, and the mental-health toll on the crew. There have also been disturbing reports that sailors tried to go overboard. The Navy disputes claims that suicidal behavior has increased, but the warnings are serious enough that members of Congress are demanding answers.

These servicemembers signed up to defend our country. They should not have to sacrifice their health and dignity because Pentagon leaders push deployments past the breaking point.

Tell Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and military leadership: Stop pushing servicemembers past the breaking point for Trump’s war. 

Hegseth has dismissed reports of deteriorating conditions aboard the Lincoln as misleading. But military families are sounding the alarm, lawmakers are demanding accountability, and the conditions aboard one ship raise a much bigger question: How many other sailors, soldiers, Marines, and airmen are being pushed beyond safe limits?

Our servicemembers should not have to reach a crisis before Pentagon leaders act.

Hegseth and military leadership must investigate the conditions and decisions that pushed the Lincoln’s crew to this point — and make sure the same failures are not happening elsewhere. The Pentagon should establish and enforce safeguards for extended deployments, ensure basic living conditions and mental-health care, and intervene before exhaustion and neglect become emergencies.

Add your name and demand that Hegseth stop dismissing these warnings and start protecting every servicemember under his command.

The petition to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and U.S. military leadership reads:

“Protect the health and safety of all U.S. servicemembers deployed for Trump's war in Iran. Guarantee adequate food, sanitation, rest, mental-health care, and timely relief. Investigate the failures exposed aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. And establish enforceable safeguards so no servicemember is pushed past the breaking point.”