Washington, D.C. — On Friday, Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) and Congressman Wesley Bell (MO-01) led a group of 52 lawmakers in demanding immediate answers from the Department of Defense on the conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, amid mounting reports of poor living conditions, food shortages, and a mental health crisis among the crew. The ship and its crew have been deployed at sea for more than 8 months — including a record-breaking 208 days without a single port call — and multiple sailors have reportedly attempted to jump overboard in recent weeks.

“The women and men serving our country on the USS Abraham Lincoln have gone 208 days without a single port call. These patriots are dealing with food shortages, moldy showers, and alarming reports that conditions have become so bad that sailors have tried to jump overboard. This is a five-alarm warning, and we owe our sailors the truth and swift solutions,” said Congresswoman Goodlander. “This is a readiness crisis, a sustainment crisis, and a wellbeing crisis — and the buck stops with the Pentagon. I will not give up the ship, and I will not give up on our sailors. Not now, not ever.”

The USS Abraham Lincoln’s deployment has been extended twice and has only pulled into port twice since November 2025. The prolonged deployment places additional strain on the servicemembers aboard and raises serious questions about the Administration’s plan for the carrier and its crew. 

The letter asks the Department of Defense to:

• Provide soldiers aboard with additional resources to address and mitigate their conditions, 

• Guarantee a safe environment for sailors who may be struggling with their mental health,

• Ensure communication with family members and the public on information about conditions and other developments on board, and

• Bring forth new procedures to ensure material readiness and personnel preparedness in future cases of extended deployment. 

A copy of the signed letter is available HERE.

Before taking office, Goodlander served as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve and is a current member of the House Armed Services Committee. 

GOODLANDER LEADERSHIP ON CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY: 

This letter is the latest chapter in Goodlander’s sustained, months-long campaign to hold the Pentagon accountable for the toll this war has taken on America’s servicemembers and their families. Since the President launched the war on February 28, Congresswoman Goodlander has used legislation, oversight, and her position on the House Armed Services Committee to reassert Congress’s constitutional authority over the war and hold the Trump Administration accountable.

• Championed Congress’s fight to end the unauthorized war in Iran. Goodlander cosponsored a second bipartisan War Powers Resolution directing the President to end hostilities against Iran absent authorization from Congress. The resolution passed the House 214-208, marking the second time in two months that the House voted to rein in the President’s unauthorized war.

• Helped lead the historic Iran War Powers Resolution through the House. In June, Goodlander championed the bipartisan Iran War Powers Resolution, which passed the House 215-208. The vote marked the first time in the history of the War Powers Act that both chambers of Congress directed a President to remove U.S. forces from a conflict through a concurrent resolution. Goodlander has also cosponsored every resolution considered by the House to force congressional debate and action on the war.

• Demanded answers from the Pentagon on the cost of the war. During an April House Armed Services Committee hearing, Goodlander pressed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth for a clear accounting of the billions of taxpayer dollars already spent on the war — but he could not provide one. Weeks earlier, she called for a dedicated public hearing on the Iran war to demand answers from the Department of Defense about the Administration’s shifting strategy, mounting casualties and costs, and reported request for an additional $200 billion.

• Fought to block taxpayer funding for an unauthorized war. In May, Goodlander joined fellow veterans and congressional national security leaders in introducing the No Funds for Iran War Act, legislation that would prohibit taxpayer dollars from funding military action against Iran without a declaration of war or specific authorization from Congress.

• Fought to protect servicemembers put in harm’s way. After six U.S. servicemembers were killed in Kuwait, Goodlander joined 13 fellow House Democratic veterans in demanding an immediate investigation into potential force-protection failures and calling on the Administration to keep Congress fully informed. Goodlander also raised alarm about reports that servicemembers who were injured in the Port Shuaiba attack struggled to get medical care. She has demanded the Department release accurate information on troop casualties during the Iran war, including an explanation for the Department’s removal of four U.S. servicemembers from the official casualty list for Operation Epic Fury.

• Repealed outdated war authorities and strengthened oversight of Pentagon spending. As part of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, Goodlander helped secure the repeal of the outdated 1991 and 2002 Iraq War Authorizations for Use of Military Force and strengthened congressional oversight of Pentagon spending.

• Delivered a bipartisan win for military readiness and taxpayers. During consideration of the Fiscal Year 2027 NDAA, Goodlander co-led a bipartisan amendment adopted by the House Armed Services Committee to strengthen military readiness and save taxpayers billions by giving servicemembers greater ability to repair the equipment they rely on. 

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