More Photos Emerge of Meals on Navy Ships As Pentagon Denies Shortages
More images purporting to show poor‑quality meals served to U.S. service members deployed amid the war with Iran have been sent by a serving officer on board the USS Abraham Lincoln.
Gerald D. Givens Jr. is a retired member of the U.S. Air Force and the founder and CEO of Raleigh Boots On The Ground, a nonprofit that supports military families. Givens has been vocal about his disapproval of President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. In the past week, he received the pictures from a friend of his, whose son is currently serving on board the ship in the Middle East.
“[My friend] told me her son has lost 17 pounds,” Givens told Newsweek. “Her husband, also a close friend and a retired veteran, shared that a care package they sent in December still has not arrived.”
The serving officer sent multiple photographs of food trays containing what appear to be minimal portions of food, including a single meat patty, a small serving of shredded meat, and sparse side items.
“My immediate reaction was shock. Food service and mail are essential to combat support. Both directly impact morale,” Givens said. At the start of his career in the Air Force, he was himself a Food Service Specialist. “My first deployment was in the middle of the desert with nothing but a runway, sand, and sun. Within days, we built a functioning tent city with water, power, and a feeding operation. I know the full progression…The meals in those photos are below standard. Period,” he added.
Newsweek reached out to the U.S. Navy via email for comment but did not receive a response at the time of writing. The Pentagon has denied any suggestions of food shortages on board ships and did not comment on the new pictures, directing Newsweek to a series of posts by the U.S. Navy’s Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, including one that said: “Recent reports alleging food shortages and poor quality aboard our deployed ships are false.”
What To Know
The new images come a week after USA Today published photographs of meals allegedly served aboard the USS Tripoli and the USS Abraham Lincoln, which similarly prompted widespread online criticism.
Those earlier images showed small portions of meat and vegetables, and were shared with the outlet by military families concerned about conditions aboard deployed vessels.
When it comes to care packages, mail delivery to 27 military ZIP codes in the region has been suspended, according to a U.S. Postal Service service alert, leaving packages sent by families in limbo due to what USPS described as logistical disruptions linked to the conflict.
“Food service and mail are essential to combat support. Both directly impact morale,” Givens said. “I spent half my career in a Mission Support Group, responsible for base operations and logistics: food service, mail, transportation, supply, and more. I understand how this system is supposed to work.
“When you are eight weeks into a campaign and both food service and mail are failing, that is not a small issue. That is a warning sign. And the real question becomes: what else is breaking that we are not seeing?”
The new images come as more than 50,000 U.S. troops remain in the Middle East, with thousands more now being deployed alongside a third U.S. aircraft carrier, despite an extended ceasefire.
US Responds
Following the first images of apparent food shortages on board U.S. ships, U.S. Navy’s Office of the Chief of Naval Operations said: “Recent reports alleging food shortages and poor quality aboard our deployed ships are false. Both USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Tripoli have sufficient food onboard to serve their crews with healthy options. The health and well-being of our Sailors and Marines are my top priority, and every crew member continues to receive fully portioned, nutritionally balanced meals.
“Regarding mail and personal packages, a temporary hold on sending mail into theater, due to combat operations, has been lifted. Our logistical network is highly adaptable, and we remain committed to supporting our warfighters as they execute Operation Epic Fury. The U.S. Navy possesses an unmatched logistics capability to sustain operations at sea, and routine menu adjustments are simply how we optimize our endurance to keep our warships in the fight.”
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also weighed in, adding: “The U.S. Navy is correct. More FAKE NEWS from the Pharisee Press. My team confirmed the logistics stats for the Lincoln & Tripoli. Both have 30+ days of Class I supplies (food) on board. NavCent monitors this everyday, for every ship. Our sailors deserve-and receive-the best.”
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This story was originally published April 24, 2026 at 3:43 AM.