New aircraft carrier heads toward Mideast after reports of issues on long-deployed USS Lincoln

New Aircraft Carrier Departs Vietnam for Middle East Region After Extended USS Abraham Lincoln Deployment

WASHINGTON — The Pacific-based aircraft carrier USS George Washington has left port in Vietnam and is moving toward the Indian Ocean, according to a Navy statement issued last week. The carrier, accompanied by a cruiser and a destroyer, was observed crossing the Singapore Strait and later confirmed in the Strait of Malacca. A Navy official speaking on condition of anonymity said the transit places the ship on a trajectory that could lead to the Middle East.

The USS Abraham Lincoln has remained in the region supporting operations against Iranian targets since arriving in January. Its deployment, which began Nov. 21 from San Diego, has now exceeded 260 consecutive days at sea, a figure also reported by Stars and Stripes and The Wall Street Journal. The Navy has stated that the Lincoln originally was scheduled to return in May. Several Democratic members of Congress have requested additional information from Navy leadership regarding crew conditions during the extended period.

The Navy has described the operating environment as one in which traditional supply routes were affected by combat actions, resulting in shortages of some items and delays in mail delivery. In a statement, the service said leadership on the carrier prioritized food, hygiene items, and then mail. It added that sailors currently have access to clean water and healthy meal options. The Navy also said it has not observed an increase in suicidal ideations or attempts aboard the ship but declined to release supporting data, citing operational security and patient privacy.

A Navy official confirmed that one sailor went overboard in early August, was recovered, received treatment aboard, and was later transferred for further care. The official did not state whether the incident was classified as a suicide attempt. U.S. Central Command posted on social media that sailors and Marines of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group “remain resilient and resolved” after more than 260 days at sea, 10,000 aircraft flights, and 1.5 million pounds of ordnance expended.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaking to reporters in Panama, said the department seeks to return the Lincoln’s crew and rotate forces as quickly as possible. He stated that every ship and crew receives available support and expressed respect for sailors operating under extended conditions with fewer port calls. Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao and commanders of naval air and surface forces held a town hall with families of Lincoln personnel last week, during which they said efforts were underway to relieve the carrier.

Democratic lawmakers have called for further oversight. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, sent a letter to Navy leadership requesting responses to questions about the prolonged deployment and its context within ongoing military operations. Sen. Ruben Gallego stated on social media that he is seeking a bipartisan congressional delegation visit to the ship.

The Navy initially described early reports of food shortages as false when they appeared in April. Subsequent reporting has included accounts of supply difficulties and crew strain. The Wall Street Journal previously reported that the USS George Washington is expected to relieve the Lincoln as one of two carriers in the Middle East.

The Lincoln’s deployment began before the start of direct U.S. military operations against Iran on Feb. 28. The Navy has maintained a blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz. Hegseth told reporters the United States can sustain the blockade indefinitely. The administration has not announced a timetable for ending the operations.

Other carriers have also completed lengthy deployments during the same period. The USS Gerald R. Ford returned to port in mid-May after an 11-month absence, the longest since the Vietnam War. During that deployment the Ford supported operations related to Iran and the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. A fire in a laundry space required the ship to return to the Mediterranean for repairs and displaced hundreds of sailors from their berthing areas.

Earlier incidents involving U.S. ships operating against Houthi forces in Yemen in 2024 and 2025 had already prompted discussion about the effects of extended deployments on equipment and personnel. The current movement of the USS George Washington leaves the western Pacific without a U.S. carrier for an undetermined period.