The US aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73). (Credit: US Navy/AIRPAC website)
BEIRUT — The U.S. aircraft carrier USS George Washington is heading from the Pacific to the Middle East to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been deployed for more than 250 days as part of the U.S. war against Iran, according to the Wall Street Journal and Associated Press.
The rotation comes amid growing concerns among U.S. lawmakers over conditions aboard the Lincoln, which has spent months at sea without a port call, as well as the broader strain the conflict is placing on U.S. Navy crews and resources.
The George Washington left Da Nang, Vietnam, last week and has since crossed the Singapore Strait. It was in the Strait of Malacca on Thursday, according to a U.S. Navy official cited by AP.
The carrier will join the USS George H.W. Bush in the Middle East, while the USS Gerald Ford’s departure from the Mediterranean in May had reduced US naval capacity in the region.
USS Lincoln under mounting pressure
The Lincoln left San Diego in November 2025 for a scheduled deployment before being redirected to the Middle East in January, ahead of the U.S. war against Iran. Its aircraft took part in the US bombing campaign before the carrier joined the blockade of Iranian ports.
The ship has now been deployed for more than 250 days and has gone around 200 days without a port call, according to Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal.
Blumenthal said he had received reports of shortages of basic supplies, contaminated water, plumbing problems, deteriorating mental health, safety concerns and disruptions to the postal system. The Navy acknowledged some shortages and mail delays but said it had not seen an increase in mental health problems or suicide attempts aboard the carrier. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also rejected reports of poor conditions.
US Navy faces wider strain
The rotation highlights the pressure on the U.S. Navy to maintain a sustained presence in the Middle East while managing limited carrier availability and lengthy maintenance cycles.
The George Washington is normally based in Yokosuka, Japan, and its deployment to the Middle East will temporarily reduce the US carrier presence in the Pacific, where China is expanding its own naval capabilities.
The U.S. Navy has 11 active aircraft carriers, all of which require significant maintenance after deployments. According to former Navy officer and Hudson Institute researcher Bryan Clark, the impact of operations linked to the war with Iran could take up to three years to fully absorb.
