$13B Navy Carrier Crippled by Sewage

A $13 billion Navy flagship aircraft carrier is crippled by sewage clogs and sailor exhaustion, exposing dangerous flaws in military readiness under relentless globalist deployments.

Story Snapshot

USS Gerald R. Ford endures 11-month deployment since June 2025, facing chronic sewage failures with 205 breakdowns in four days alone.
Over 4,600 sailors endure 45-minute toilet waits, 19-hour engineering shifts, and missed family milestones like weddings and births.
Narrow vacuum pipes, designed for water savings, fail under wartime crew loads, costing thousands in fixes for a $13B asset.
Crew morale plummets; some sailors plan to leave Navy amid fatigue risks echoing prior carrier accidents.

Deployment Extension Pushes Ship to Breaking Point

USS Gerald R. Ford departed Norfolk, Virginia, in June 2025 for what became a record 11-month mission. Operations escalated in January 2026 with the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in the Caribbean. The carrier then transited to the eastern Mediterranean after a port call in Souda Bay, Greece, supporting Israel against Iran threats. Navy leadership extended the deployment despite mounting strains on crew and systems. Captain David Skarosi acknowledged hardships in a mid-February letter, noting missed weddings and family trips, yet stressed duty when the nation calls.

Sewage System Failures Undermine Flagship Capability

The Ford’s vacuum sewage system, commissioned in 2017 and adapted from cruise ships, features narrow pipes prone to clogs under 4,600 sailors using 650 toilets. January 2026 saw 205 breakdowns over four days, forcing 19-hour engineering shifts to combat leaks and overflows. Daily maintenance calls persisted through 2025, with 32 external assists that year alone. Navy officials claim issues are improving and non-mission-impacting, but reports detail ongoing 45-minute toilet lines. Historical precedents include $400,000 annual acid flushes reported in 2022.

Crew Fatigue and Morale Crisis Threaten Retention

Sailors face isolation with limited internet, exacerbating frustration from prolonged separation. Families report missed milestones including deaths and births, fueling calls for relief. Some crew members now consider exiting the Navy, mirroring retention drops from overwork. This echoes USS Harry S. Truman’s 2025 Red Sea jet losses blamed on exhaustion. Captain Skarosi balances morale with mission demands, but power dynamics favor geopolitical priorities over sailor welfare. Norfolk homeport communities feel the social strain.

Media outlets like WSJ and NPR amplified voices through sailor mothers’ emails and letters, highlighting sanitary risks and burnout. Navy brass defends high op-tempo for deterrence, yet critics question oversight on a $13 billion design vulnerable to basic failures.

Taxpayer Costs and Readiness Questions Mount

The $13 billion Ford-class lead ship symbolizes power projection, yet persistent flaws demand ongoing repairs amid Iran tensions. Short-term fatigue risks operational errors; long-term, recruitment suffers from bad publicity and design rethink needs. Congress and taxpayers scrutinize value when a cutting-edge carrier contends with sewage crises. Broader fleet strain from extended missions raises doubts on preparedness against adversaries. President Trump’s administration now faces pressure to address these inefficiencies inherited from prior mismanagement.

Geopolitical ops like Maduro’s capture underscore necessity, but human costs demand accountability. Limited post-February 24 updates leave uncertainties on resolution.