Sen. Mark Kelly Calls for Investigation into Conditions on USS Abraham Lincoln

Senator Mark Kelly, a Democrat from Arizona, has raised concerns about the conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. He is advocating for an investigation following reports from the grandmother of a sailor aboard the ship. She claimed her grandson, who was thin upon joining the Navy, has lost between 20 and 25 pounds during the carrier’s extended deployment.

Kelly, who is also a former Navy combat pilot and serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, shared these details during an interview on Morning Edition. The grandmother described her grandson’s situation as a struggle, adding that it is both ‘depressing’ and a ‘very difficult situation.’

In response to these reports, Kelly criticized the reactions of President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, describing them as dismissive of the sailors’ complaints. Alongside other lawmakers, Kelly is pushing for an official inquiry. They propose a bipartisan congressional delegation visit the carrier to directly evaluate the conditions on board.

The senator’s full discussion on the matter is available in the interview, which can be accessed by clicking the play button in the embedded audio player.