USS George Washington to replace USS Abraham Lincoln carrier in the Middle East amid concerns over sailors’ condition - report
The US Navy is preparing to send the aircraft carrier USS George Washington to the Middle East to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has spent more than 250 days at sea
The US is preparing to send the USS George Washington to the Middle East to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln as part of a previously scheduled rotation, according to US officials familiar with the matter, the Wall Street Journal reported. The Lincoln began its deployment in November and was redirected to the Middle East in January ahead of the US war against Iran.
The carrier played a central role in the US's Operation Epic Fury bombing campaign and has since taken part in the US blockade of Iranian ports.
The Lincoln has been deployed for more than 250 days and has not made a port call in 200 days, a record for consecutive days at sea, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D., Conn.) said in a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao. Blumenthal cited "widespread reports of shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, plumbing issues, deteriorating mental health, deck safety concerns, and disruptions in the mail system."
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Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R., Ind.) said he plans to seek an update from the Pentagon, telling CNN that sailors "have to have comfort knowing that they're getting properly taken care of." A US official said the carrier rotation was planned before the concerns over living conditions were raised. The Navy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The George Washington, forward-deployed to Japan, has been operating in the Pacific in recent weeks as flagship of Carrier Strike Group 5. The carrier, along with the cruiser USS Robert Smalls and destroyer USS Shoup, departed Da Nang, Vietnam on August 5 after a port visit that included a bilateral search-and-rescue exercise with the Vietnamese People's Navy, according to a Navy press release.
"Whether we are navigating the complexities of an at-sea rescue exercise or playing a spirited game of soccer on a local field, the goal is the same: building human connections," said Capt. Nicholas DeLeo, the George Washington's commanding officer.
The carrier this week transited the Strait of Malacca alongside guided-missile destroyers, according to open-source information, as it continues operations in the Indo-Pacific ahead of its expected Middle East deployment.