The aircraft carrier USS George Washington has begun a transit toward the Middle East, following reports of mental health and supply challenges aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been on an extended deployment. The Lincoln, which has been supporting U.S. operations related to Iran, has been at sea for over 240 consecutive days, a deployment that has drawn criticism from some Democratic lawmakers.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated Thursday that conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln were "completely misrepresented." He acknowledged that extended carrier deployments during the conflict with Iran raise concerns about the impact on service members and the strain on ship equipment. The Navy has maintained a blockade on Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz.
The USS George Washington departed Da Nang, Vietnam, last week, accompanied by a cruiser and a destroyer. A Navy official confirmed the carrier was in the Strait of Malacca, positioning it for passage into the Indian Ocean. Reports suggest the Washington will replace the Lincoln in the Middle East, potentially leaving the Pacific without a U.S. carrier presence for an undefined period.
The USS Abraham Lincoln initially deployed from San Diego on November 21 and arrived in the Middle East in January, ahead of the Iran conflict's launch on February 28. The Navy previously stated that the conflict disrupted traditional supply hubs in the Middle East, leading to shortages of items including mail aboard the carrier. Leadership prioritized mission-critical supplies such as food and hygiene items before mail, according to a Navy statement. The statement assured that sailors now have access to clean water and healthy meal options.
Democratic lawmakers are requesting investigations and more transparency regarding conditions on the Lincoln, which was originally scheduled to return home in May. Senator Richard Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, wrote to Navy leadership seeking responses to questions about the prolonged deployment. Representative Ruben Gallego expressed concerns on social media, calling the treatment of sailors "disgusting" and "dangerous."
Hegseth indicated a desire to rotate crews and bring the Lincoln's sailors home as soon as possible, while pushing back against the severity of reported issues. He emphasized that the Navy provides ships and crews with all possible resources, acknowledging the difficulty of long deployments in austere conditions with fewer port calls.
Earlier reports of food shortages aboard the Lincoln in April were initially denied by the Navy. More recently, reports have surfaced regarding mental health concerns among sailors. The Navy stated it has "not observed an increase in suicidal ideations or attempts aboard the ship," but declined to provide specific data, citing operational security and privacy concerns. A Navy official confirmed that a sailor went overboard in early August but was quickly recovered and received medical treatment off the ship. The nature of this incident was not clarified.
Other carriers have experienced long deployments that have impacted morale. The USS Gerald R. Ford returned in May after an 11-month deployment, the longest since the Vietnam War. During its deployment, the Ford experienced a fire that required repairs in the Mediterranean Sea and resulted in hundreds of sailors losing their sleeping quarters. Concerns about the strain on naval forces and equipment have also been noted in relation to incidents involving ships operating against Houthi rebels in Yemen in 2024 and 2025.