Richard Blumenthal

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, the Veterans' Affairs Committee's top Democrat, demanded answers Wednesday to reports of a growing mental health breakdown aboard a Navy warship stuck in the Trump administration's war with Iran.

Sailors on the USS Abraham Lincoln have been at sea in the Middle East for a record number of consecutive days as part of an extended deployment. The Defense Department's slow attempts to relive the aircraft carrier have reportedly taken a toll on its crew, which military news outlets say has resorted to extreme coping measures as the war drags on.

"The Administration has yet to adequately explain the objectives, end state, or anticipated duration of those operations," Blumenthal wrote in a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao. "If the Administration intends to maintain a prolonged military campaign or an elevated carrier presence in the region, it must explain how it intends to ensure today's operational requirements do not create tomorrow's readiness crisis."

The Navy Times reported Tuesday that a sailor tried to jump overboard from the Lincoln, while Stars and Stripes, a historically independent DOD outlet, published its own story the same day on a similar incident and the suicidal ideations of some crew members. Sailors have also reportedly struggled with exhaustion and worsening morale as the administration strains to provide them proper provisions.

Neither the DOD nor the Navy answered The National News Desk's request for comment. A spokesperson for the branch denied to the military news outlet Task & Purpose, though, that there's been an increase in suicidal actions.

"We know that extended deployments place a significant strain on our service members and their families, and we are grateful for the resilience and sacrifices they make in support of our nation's security," the spokesperson said. "Based on information available to the command, we have not identified an increase in reported suicidal ideation or suicide attempts aboard the ship."

The Lincoln's crew initially planned to return from its monthslong deployment in May, but the Trump administration's failure to secure an offramp from the war, which quickly went off the rails, has kept troops engaged with Iran since the winter.

"The men and women aboard the Lincoln have answered the call to serve their country," Blumenthal said in his letter. "The Department owes them not only adequate supplies, maintenance, and support during this deployment, but a sustainable force-generation model that does not rely on repeatedly extending sailors and ships to meet persistent operational demands."