San Diego lawmakers demand review of USS Abraham Lincoln deployment

Democratic lawmakers from the San Diego region, including Representatives Scott Peters, Juan Vargas, Sara Jacobs, and Mike Levin, along with California Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, have called for an independent review by the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General regarding the extended deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln and Carrier Strike Group 3.

The San Diego-based carrier group has been deployed for over 260 days, a period that includes more than 200 continuous days without a port call. Legislators cited reports from service members' families concerning poor living conditions, including mold, insufficient food, and a lack of hygienic materials, as well as declining mental health among the crew.

President Donald Trump dismissed these concerns, stating that a retired admiral informed him the vessel is “bellamente mantenido y bellamente cuidado” (beautifully maintained and cared for). The President characterized the deployment duration as a “good period of time,” noting that other vessels have served longer in the past. The deployment was extended following the 2026 Iran war.