Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao confirmed in a letter to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand that eight individuals assigned to the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group have attempted suicide since the beginning of their deployment. The letter was written in response to a formal inquiry from the Senator regarding the welfare and quality of life conditions for sailors stationed aboard the fleet.

While the fact of the eight attempts is consistent across reports, the context provided by the outlets differs. The BBC reports that the Navy maintains the crew has had access to adequate mental health support throughout the duration of the deployment. In contrast, The Guardian frames the disclosure within the context of the operational environment, specifically noting the deployment's role in the ongoing tensions involving Iran. The Navy's response, sent on behalf of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, serves as an official acknowledgment of the mental health challenges faced by the personnel during this specific mission. There is currently no public disagreement between the sources regarding the total number of attempts or the identity of the official who provided the information.