New US carrier heads to West Asia amid concerns over extended USS Lincoln deployment
The United States has repositioned the aircraft carrier USS George Washington from the Asia-Pacific region towards West Asia, a move that comes as reports surface about mental health and supply problems aboard the long-deployed USS Abraham Lincoln.
The Pacific-based George Washington left port in Da Nang, Vietnam, last week, according to a Navy statement. The carrier, accompanied by a cruiser and a destroyer, has since been seen crossing the Singapore Strait. A Navy official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the ship was in the Strait of Malacca, which links the Pacific and Indian Oceans and puts it on course to enter the Indian Ocean. The Wall Street Journal has reported that the Washington will replace the Lincoln as one of two US carriers stationed in West Asia.
The Lincoln originally departed San Diego on November 21 and arrived in the region in January, ahead of the start of the US-Iran war on February 28. The carrier has spent more than 240 days continuously at sea, a record for the Navy. It was initially scheduled to return home in May, but its deployment has been extended due to ongoing operations.
Recent reports have highlighted the toll of the extended deployment on sailors, including shortages of supplies and restricted access to mail. The Navy acknowledged that the conflict created a "highly contested environment where traditional supply hubs in the Middle East were disrupted by combat actions." In a statement, the Navy said that "leadership prioritised mission-critical supplies: first food, then hygiene items, then mail," and assured that sailors now have access to clean water and healthy meal options.
The conditions have drawn scrutiny from several Democratic lawmakers. Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has written to Navy leadership asking for responses on the circumstances aboard the Lincoln. "The Lincoln's prolonged deployment is especially significant because it is occurring in the context of continuing military operations against Iran and the possibility that substantial U.S. naval forces will be required in the region for an extended period," he wrote.
Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego, a Marine Corps veteran, said on social media that he plans to lead a bipartisan delegation on an oversight visit to the ship. He described the treatment of sailors as "not just disgusting; it's dangerous." Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, during a visit to Panama, said the reports were "completely misrepresented." He said he wants the Lincoln's sailors and crews rotated home as quickly as possible, adding, "We make sure that every ship, every crew, every captain has everything we can provide them at every single moment. Some deployments are longer than others, and I have more respect and gratitude for those sailors than anybody. What they do in those high seas in those austere conditions with less port calls — it's incredible."
The movement of the George Washington underscores the continuing strain on US naval forces in the region. While active hostilities between the US and Iran have calmed in recent weeks, the Navy has reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments. The administration has not offered clarity on how it intends to wind down the conflict, leaving the duration of deployments uncertain.
Navy leaders have emphasised the importance of maintaining a presence in the region, but the extended deployments have raised broader questions about the sustainability of such operations and the welfare of service members. The arrival of the George Washington is expected to provide some relief to the crew of the Lincoln, though details of a rotation schedule have not been announced.
