Hegseth tells USS Lincoln sailors controversial deployment ‘wasn’t easy’

Pentagon chief tries to play down problems onboard carrier as it returns to dock after 260 days at sea without port call US defense secretary Pete Hegseth told service members on the USS Abraham Lincoln on Wednesday that their deployment “wasn’t easy” as the carrier prepares to dock after spending over 260 consecutive days at sea without a port call, setting a navy record. For months, there have b…