Full story
Carrier swap amid strain
The USS George Washington has begun heading toward the Middle East to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln after reports emerged of mental health and supply issues aboard the long-deployed ship, with the Lincoln supporting the U.S. war against Iran.
“The Pacific-based aircraft carrier USS George Washington has begun heading toward the Middle East”
The Lincoln originally deployed Nov. 21 from San Diego and arrived in the Middle East in January ahead of the launch of the Iran war on Feb. 28, and the Navy said the conflict created a “highly contested environment where traditional supply hubs in the Middle East were disrupted by combat actions.”
The Navy said it prioritized “first food, then hygiene items, then mail,” and it assured that sailors aboard the ship now have access to clean water and “healthy meal options.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters during a visit to Panama that the U.S. can maintain its blockade “indefinitely,” while NBC News reported the Pentagon plans to replace the Lincoln amid privately raised concerns about low morale and widespread fatigue.
Lawmakers press for answers
Democratic lawmakers pressed for accountability from the Pentagon over conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, with Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal writing that the ship’s prolonged deployment is “especially significant” because it is occurring alongside continuing military operations against Iran.
Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego, a Marine Corps veteran, said on social media he is seeking to lead a bipartisan delegation on an official oversight visit and that the way sailors are being treated is “not just disgusting; it’s dangerous.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed back on reports of problems aboard, telling reporters during a visit to Panama, “We make sure that every ship, every crew, every captain has everything we can provide them at every single moment.”
The Navy also held a tense town hall for families of troops aboard the USS Lincoln, where acting Secretary Hung Cao and commanders of the Navy’s air and surface forces promised to do everything they could to relieve the aircraft carrier.
What’s at stake next
The reported conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln have triggered calls for investigations, more information, and greater visibility into living conditions for sailors and Marines, with the ship originally set to return home in May.
“it had “not observed an increase in suicidal ideations or attempts aboard the ship””
The Navy said it had “not observed an increase in suicidal ideations or attempts aboard the ship,” while a Navy official told MS NOW that a sailor went overboard earlier this month, was quickly recovered, treated by the carrier’s medical department, and transferred off ship for follow-on care.
Families and lawmakers described a broader set of problems, including shortages of basic supplies, contaminated water, plumbing issues, deteriorating mental health, safety concerns on the flight deck, and disruptions in the mail system, according to a letter from Sen. Richard Blumenthal.
As the USS George Washington moves through the Strait of Malacca toward the Indian Ocean, the Wall Street Journal reported it would replace the Lincoln as one of the two aircraft carriers now stationed in the Middle East, leaving Pacific waters without a U.S. carrier presence for an unknown period of time.
