USS George Washington set to replace Abraham Lincoln in Middle East

The United States is preparing to deploy the aircraft carrier USS George Washington to the Middle East to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln under a previously scheduled rotation, US officials told The Wall Street Journal.

The move comes as the Lincoln approaches the end of an extended deployment that has included operations against Iran and participation in the US blockade of Iranian ports.

The Lincoln began its scheduled deployment in November and was redirected to the Middle East in January ahead of the US war with Iran. It later played a key role in Operation Epic Fury and subsequent maritime operations.

The carrier has now spent more than 250 days deployed and about 200 days without a port call, according to Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who has raised concerns over conditions aboard the ship.

“There have been widespread reports of shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, plumbing issues, deteriorating mental health, deck safety concerns, and disruptions in the mail system, which have caused many care packages in route to the ship to be lost in transit for months,” Blumenthal wrote in a letter to Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao.

Rep. Marlin Stutzman said he also planned to seek information from the Pentagon.

“At the end of the day, we know that those who are serving have to have comfort knowing that they’re getting properly taken care of,” he told CNN.

The carrier rotation was planned before concerns over the Lincoln’s living conditions emerged, according to a US official.

The USS George Washington, which is based in Japan, has been operating in the Pacific in recent weeks and transited the Strait of Malacca this week alongside guided-missile destroyers.

By Sabina Mammadli