The US aircraft carrier USS George Washington has begun moving toward the Middle East as concerns continue over conditions aboard the long-deployed USS Abraham Lincoln. The deployment comes amid ongoing US military operations involving Iran and growing questions about the strain placed on American naval crews.
The USS George Washington departed Da Nang, Vietnam, last week and has since been tracked near the Singapore Strait. A US Navy official said the carrier had entered the Strait of Malacca, placing it on a route toward the Indian Ocean and eventually the Middle East.
The move is expected to provide relief for the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has remained at sea for more than 260 consecutive days. The carrier originally left San Diego in November and reached the Middle East in January, before the conflict with Iran began in February.
The prolonged deployment has raised concerns among some lawmakers about crew welfare, supplies and operational pressure. The Navy acknowledged that disruptions to regional supply hubs caused shortages aboard the Lincoln, including problems involving food, hygiene supplies and mail during parts of its deployment.
Reports have also raised questions about mental health among sailors aboard the carrier. The Navy said it had not observed an increase in reported suicidal thoughts or attempts, but officials declined to provide specific figures, citing privacy and operational security. A sailor who went overboard in August was recovered and later transferred for further medical care.
Several Democratic lawmakers have called for greater oversight of conditions aboard the USS Lincoln. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Ruben Gallego have sought additional information, while Gallego has indicated plans for a bipartisan congressional visit. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, however, has rejected what he described as inaccurate portrayals of conditions aboard the ship.
The arrival of another US aircraft carrier could help ease the pressure on the Lincoln and its crew, although questions remain about the wider naval deployment. The US Navy has maintained a blockade around Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz, while Washington has offered limited details about when its military operations in the region may end.
