Daijiworld Media Network – Washington
Washington, Aug 14: The US Navy's aircraft carrier USS George Washington has begun moving towards the Middle East, amid growing concerns over the prolonged deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln and reports of supply and mental health issues among sailors aboard the carrier.
The Lincoln has been supporting the US military campaign against Iran and has spent more than 260 consecutive days at sea, setting a record for uninterrupted deployment. Several Democratic lawmakers have called for greater accountability from the Pentagon over conditions aboard the ship.
The USS George Washington left Da Nang, Vietnam, last week, according to the US Navy. The carrier, accompanied by a cruiser and destroyer, has since been spotted crossing the Singapore Strait.
The carrier has also been reported in the Strait of Malacca, placing it on a route towards the Indian Ocean. The move is expected to position the George Washington to replace the Lincoln as one of the US aircraft carriers stationed in the Middle East.
The deployment would leave the Pacific without a US aircraft carrier presence for an uncertain period, even as Washington continues to focus on deterring China in the region.
The USS Abraham Lincoln deployed from San Diego on November 21 and reached the Middle East in January, ahead of the launch of the Iran war on February 28. Its deployment was originally expected to end in May.
The Navy has acknowledged that combat operations disrupted traditional supply hubs in the Middle East, resulting in shortages and delays in mail aboard the carrier. Officials said mission-critical supplies were prioritised, with food supplied first, followed by hygiene items and mail.
The Navy has since said sailors aboard the Lincoln have access to clean water and healthy meal options.
Democratic lawmakers have called for investigations and greater transparency over conditions aboard the carrier. Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal has sought answers from Navy leadership, citing the prolonged deployment and continued military operations against Iran.
Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego, a former Marine, has said he is seeking to lead a bipartisan congressional delegation on an oversight visit to the ship.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has rejected reports portraying conditions aboard the Lincoln as severely inadequate, saying the reports had been "completely misrepresented". He said he wanted the sailors brought home and crews rotated as quickly as possible.
Navy leaders, including acting Secretary Hung Cao, recently held a town hall with families of sailors aboard the Lincoln. Navy commanders assured families that efforts were being made to relieve the carrier.
Reports have also raised concerns over the mental health of sailors aboard the Lincoln. The Navy said it had not observed an increase in suicidal thoughts or attempts aboard the ship, but declined to provide specific data, citing operational security and patient privacy.
The Navy also confirmed that a sailor went overboard in early August but was quickly recovered, treated by the ship's medical department and transferred ashore for further care. Officials did not disclose whether the incident was being treated as a suicide attempt.
US Central Command has defended the performance of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, saying its sailors and Marines remain resilient after more than 260 days at sea, 10,000 aircraft flights and the expenditure of 1.5 million pounds of ordnance.
The Lincoln is not the only US carrier to have faced concerns over extended deployments. The USS Gerald R. Ford returned home in May after an 11-month deployment, the longest since the Vietnam War, during which it also supported the war against Iran.
During that deployment, the Ford suffered a fire in a laundry space that forced it to return to the Mediterranean for repairs and left hundreds of sailors without sleeping spaces.
The latest developments have renewed concerns over the strain placed on US naval personnel and equipment by extended deployments, as Washington maintains a military presence in the Middle East amid uncertainty over the duration of the Iran conflict.