The aircraft carrier USS George Washington is traveling toward the Middle East to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been deployed for more than 260 days. The Navy confirmed the George Washington was in the Strait of Malacca on a course for the Indian Ocean after departing Vietnam last week.
The USS Abraham Lincoln has been stationed in the Middle East since January, shortly before the start of the U.S. war with Iran on February 28. Its deployment has been extended past its original May return date as the Navy maintains a blockade on Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Navy acknowledged that combat actions have disrupted Middle Eastern supply hubs, leading to shortages and mail delays on the Lincoln. Officials stated they have prioritized mission-critical supplies, including food and hygiene items, and that sailors now have clean water and healthy meals. While a sailor was recovered after going overboard in early August, the Navy stated it has not observed an increase in suicidal ideation, though it declined to provide specific data citing security and privacy.
The scale of the operation involves significant military expenditure, with U.S. Central Command reporting that the Lincoln strike group has expended 1.5 million pounds of ordnance during 10,000 aircraft flights. The deployment of the George Washington to the Middle East will result in a period where there is no U.S. aircraft carrier presence in the Pacific region. This shift reflects a policy change where the Trump administration views China as a force to be deterred rather than a primary global adversary, moving resources to sustain the ongoing conflict with Iran.
The next steps involve the arrival of the George Washington in the Middle East and the eventual rotation of the Lincoln crew back to San Diego, though a specific date for their return has not been released. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated the U.S. can maintain the Iranian port blockade indefinitely. In Congress, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) has requested formal answers from Navy leadership regarding the prolonged deployment, while Gallego is seeking a bipartisan oversight visit to the ship to inspect conditions firsthand.