Frequent Exposure of Issues: U.S. Senator Calls for Investigation into the Living Conditions of Naval Personnel

On August 25, Xinhua News Agency reported that a letter disclosed by U.S. media on the 24th shows that two influential Democratic U.S. Senators are requesting the Pentagon to investigate the living conditions of personnel aboard several naval vessels, including the USS Lincoln aircraft carrier, the USS Ford aircraft carrier, and the USS Benfold destroyer.

According to CNN, this request for investigation was made by two senior Democratic members of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, namely the committee's vice chair, Senator Patty Murray from Washington, and Senator Chris Coons from Delaware. The Senate Appropriations Committee has the authority to draft federal budget bills and wields significant influence. Coons is the highest-ranking Democrat on the committee's defense subcommittee.

The two senators recently wrote to U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Harker, requesting an immediate "independent strategic assessment" regarding the recent deployment actions of the USS Lincoln, USS Ford, and USS Benfold.

Both aircraft carriers have undergone extended deployments. The USS Lincoln began its scheduled deployment in November last year, was redirected to the Middle East in January this year, participated in the U.S. military's "Epic Fury" operation against Iran, and the maritime blockade of Iran. This month, it was reported that its sailors are facing living conditions and mental health issues due to the high-intensity operational tempo and prolonged deployment, with several individuals experiencing mental breakdowns and attempting to jump overboard. The U.S. Central Command confirmed in a statement on the 13th of this month that a sailor from the carrier fell overboard on the 3rd and was later rescued.

According to CNN, since docking in Guam in December 2025, sailors aboard the USS Lincoln have had almost no opportunities to go ashore for rest. The carrier has also faced issues with its mail system, leading to intermittent shortages of hygiene products, fresh food, and other supplies.

In May of this year, the USS Ford finally returned to port after completing 326 consecutive days of missions. The carrier participated in U.S. military operations against Venezuela and Iran, during which incidents of toilet clogs and a laundry room fire occurred. The firefighting efforts took as long as 30 hours, causing about 600 sailors to be unable to use their own berths.

Additionally, U.S. media recently reported that the USS Benfold lost power for four days in July while in the South China Sea, leaving crew members unable to use the toilets and air conditioning, and affecting food and water supply on board.

The two senators wrote in their letter that the independent assessment requested should "examine issues related to the combat readiness of the vessels, including operations, personnel composition, living conditions (including mental health), and communication between crew members and their families." If the assessment is approved, it should also propose corrective measures "to improve the situation of sailors and Marines facing extended deployments in the future." (Yang Shuyi)