The USS George Washington is en route to the Middle East to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln as part of a planned carrier rotation, U.S. officials told The Wall Street Journal. The move comes amid growing scrutiny of the Lincoln after an extended deployment and reports raising questions about the ship’s living conditions and the wellbeing of its crew.
The Lincoln began its scheduled deployment in November and was redirected to the Middle East in January as U.S. forces prepared for operations related to Iran. The carrier and its air wing have participated in Operation Epic Fury and have been involved in the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports.
Senator Richard Blumenthal has said the Lincoln has now spent more than 250 days deployed and roughly 200 days without a port call, prompting concern from lawmakers about the strain on sailors after such a prolonged period at sea.
In a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao, Blumenthal cited reports of shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, plumbing problems, deck safety issues and disruptions to mail service aboard the carrier. Media outlets including Stars and Stripes and Navy Times reported accounts suggesting some sailors were struggling, and CNN reported that a sailor went overboard last month, was rescued and then medically evaluated.
Officials told The Wall Street Journal that the replacement of the Lincoln by the George Washington had been planned before those condition reports emerged.
Defense Secretary Hegseth has pushed back on the accounts of poor conditions, saying such reports are “completely misrepresented.” Speaking to reporters in Panama, he acknowledged some deployments can be especially long and challenging while expressing strong praise for the sailors, saying the Navy does everything it can to support ships, crews and captains and that he holds “more respect and gratitude for those sailors than anybody.”
The George Washington carrier group departed Vietnam after a port visit on August 5 and is now heading toward the Middle East, a U.S. official told CNN. The exact timing of the George Washington’s arrival and the handover schedule have not been disclosed.
As the relief proceeds, lawmakers have said they will continue to seek updates from the administration to ensure sailors receive appropriate care and support during extended operations.