Garamendi, Bell, Courtney Call on DOD to Take Measures to Protect Well-Being of USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Yesterday, Representatives John Garamendi (D-CA), a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, joined Wesley Bell (D-MO), Joe Courtney (D-CT), and eight other House Armed Services Democrats to write a letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth expressing concern regarding the condition, operational strain, and crew welfare aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group as its deployment approaches its tenth consecutive month at sea. 

In the letter, Garamendi and HASC Democrats call on the Department of Defense to provide a classified briefing to members of the House Armed Services Committee to provide information on the status of the Ford and all future measures that will be taken to ensure the health and safety of the strike group. 

“The strike group has now been deployed for more than nine months, with indications that operations may continue beyond that mark,” wrote the 11 Members of Congress. “This will place this deployment at the outer edge of, and potentially exceeding, standard Navy deployment timelines, and breaking the record of 294 days set by the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln in 2020. The cumulative effects of an extended, high-tempo deployment raise significant concerns about force sustainability, crew endurance, and long-term readiness.” 

“These concerns are compounded by reports of degraded living conditions and equipment strain during this extended deployment, including loss of berthing capacity, persistent maintenance challenges, and declining crew morale,” the Members of Congress continued. “Taken together, these issues raise broader questions about the cumulative impact of prolonged high-tempo operations on both readiness and the well-being of deployed servicemembers.” 

“The United States Navy’s ability to project power globally depends not only on advanced platforms, but on the resilience and readiness of the sailors who operate them,” the Members of Congress concluded. “Ensuring that deployment practices remain sustainable is essential to preserving both mission effectiveness and the long-term health of the force.” 

The letter was also signed by Representatives Sarah Elfreth (D-Md.), Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.), Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.), Eric Sorensen (D-Ill.), Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii), Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), Maggie Goodlander (D-N.H.), and Jason Crow (D-Colo.). 

The full letter can be found here. 

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