Kelly, SASC Democrats Call on Chairman Wicker to Hold a Hearing on the Trump Administration’s Worsening Strain on Troops from Extended War in Iran

The senators' letter comes after a series of reports detailing servicemembers on ships like USS Lincoln and bases abroad enduring dwindling supplies and deteriorating conditions on extended deployments with no end in sight

Today, U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and his Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Democratic colleagues urged Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) to hold a hearing to investigate the Trump Administration's failures to support our servicemembers who are carrying out indefinite extended deployments in the unauthorized, disastrous Iran war that President Trump cannot seem to end.

The senators highlighted how this Administration's failure to end the war in Iran has taken a physical, emotional, and mental toll on deployed troops, even beyond the disturbing conditions aboard the USS Lincoln-with dwindling supplies and deteriorating conditions aboard numerous ships and across bases in the region. The American people and military families deserve answers on how the Trump administration intends to break a cycle crushing morale, stranding our troops in grim conditions, and leaving families unsure how to make ends meet while their loved ones in uniform serve longer extended deployments with no end in sight.

"The toll this unauthorized, disastrous war is taking on our troops is unconscionable," said the senators. "Troops are suffering because of this Administration's inability to end this war or make the environment safe enough for our servicemembers to be delivered the food, medication or supplies they need."

The SASC Democrats also raised serious concerns that these ongoing incidents could have direct consequences on our nation's ability to recruit and retain members of our military: "Military families and the American people deserve answers about when our heroes will come home and how DoD plans to restore military readiness that has been drained by this war. Supply shortages and unjustified extended deployments also have a real impact on our ability to recruit and retain our servicemembers - why would anyone sign up to fight when they fear they will be exploited and left without supplies, recourse or support? Not only do we owe our troops the bare minimum respect and support they deserve, but it is a recruitment and retention imperative."

"The stakes couldn't be higher. The longer this Administration fails to articulate a plan to end this disastrous war, the longer our brave servicemembers will pay the price," they said.

This letter follows Kelly's recent public warnings on the toll of the extended Iran war. Last week, Kelly blasted Hegseth's dismissive response to the mental health crisis aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. He also warned that Trump's cascading foreign policy failures-from the war in Iran, the threats of military action against Oman, to the deteriorating conditions aboard the USS Lincoln and the order to reduce U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises-are putting American servicemembers at greater risk.

Click here to read the full text of the letter.