News

Sen. King calls for defense secretary to “demonstrate leadership” amid reports of poor conditions on USS Lincoln

Sen. King calls for defense secretary to “demonstrate leadership” amid reports of poor conditions on USS Lincoln

Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, arrives to a Senate Committee on Armed Services hearing regarding the reappointment of General Kenneth S. Wilsbach, USAF, to be Chief of Staff of the Air Force on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert) Photo: 560 WGAN Newsradio, Associated Press


Maine U.S. Sen. Angus King is among lawmakers pressing for answers about conditions on board the USS Abraham Lincoln.

It comes after reports of food and water shortages, broken plumbing, and mental health crises among the aircraft carrier’s crew during its record-setting nine-month deployment near Iran.

King, who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, joined colleagues in sending a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth:

“As the Secretary of Defense, you are accountable to the men and women who serve our nation.  It is time for you to demonstrate leadership, rather than peddle excuses.  The servicemembers we send into harm’s way deserve nothing less.”

On Monday, President Trump said concerns over service members on the vessel were a “CNN fake report.”

Adm. Mike Mullen, former Joint Chiefs of Staff chair, said he had “great concern” over conditions on board the ship during a Sunday interview with ABC News’s “This Week.”

Latest Headlines

1 hour ago in Local

Sen. King calls for defense secretary to “demonstrate leadership” amid reports of poor conditions on USS Lincoln

Fresh

Maine U.S. Sen. Angus King is among lawmakers pressing for answers about conditions on board the USS Abraham Lincoln.

1 hour ago in Local

Motorcyclist killed in crash involving SUV in Auburn

Fresh

A crash that left a motorcyclist dead in Auburn early Wednesday morning is under investigation.

22 hours ago in Local

Westbrook Home Heavily Damaged from Fire

The home sustained extensive structural damage.

23 hours ago in Local

Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office Warns About Jury Duty Scam

The scam features a person posing as a Lieutenant with the Sheriff’s Office

1 day ago in Local

Police ask for help locating missing Saco teen

Police are asking for the public's help finding a 17-year-old girl from Saco.