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House Republican dismisses reports of declining mental health on USS Abraham Lincoln

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House Republican dismisses reports of declining mental health on USS Abraham Lincoln

Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas) said Monday he does not "make much" of reports that allege crew members aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln are suffering from declining mental health and supply shortages due to its long deployment.

In an appearance on Fox Business's "Mornings with Maria" anchored by Cheryl Casone, Fallon, a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, responded to the reports and calls for congressional oversight into the physical and mental state of crew members on the ship.

"These reports are just that. I haven't heard anything personally from our office, and I trust the Navy to do this as well. So, I don't make much of it, to be honest," he said.

Casone confirmed the congressman was not concerned about the reports but cited the aircraft carrier's deployment, saying "260 days is a long time, you know, for a deployment."

"There's no doubt about it," the lawmaker responded. "When I served, I always prefer to be stateside, if possible, but that's part of the job: to deploy."

"They did an outstanding job and I'm glad they're coming back," Fallon concluded.

Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao announced last week that the USS Abraham Lincoln's deployment, after departing San Diego in November, will end soon as part of a planned rotation with the USS George Washington.

The aircraft carrier set a modern-day record when it went without a port call for more than 200 consecutive days of continuous time at sea. The ship was originally intended to return home in May but was redirected to the Middle East in January ahead of the Iran war.

The Lincoln gained public attention following reports from news outlets of sailors attempting to jump off the aircraft carrier, as well as the ship's poor living conditions — which included moldy showers and rotten food.

Cao said that the ship's deployment was extended because the mission "demanded it." He acknowledged that deployments are "hard," combat operations make them "harder" and that war is "hell."

President Trump said Monday concerns over members on the ship were "a CNN fake report."

"The Lincoln has been out there for a period of time, good period of time. But over the years, we've had them out there much longer," he continued.