Key facts
- The USS George Washington is being sent to the Middle East to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln.
- Reports indicate deteriorating conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln, including food shortages and mental health concerns.
- At least one sailor jumped overboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, with another prevented from doing so.
- US lawmakers have expressed concerns over the well-being of sailors on extended deployments.
- The US Navy has acknowledged supply disruptions but denied a widespread mental health crisis.
The US is replacing the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier with the USS George Washington in the Middle East due to reports of deteriorating conditions and declining morale among sailors on the Lincoln. The Lincoln has been deployed for over 250 days without a port call, leading to concerns about the physical and mental health of its approximately 5,000 personnel. Reports indicate at least one sailor went overboard amid a mental health crisis, and another was prevented from doing so due to exhaustion. While the US Navy has acknowledged supply disruptions, it has denied a widespread mental health crisis. The USS George Washington is expected to arrive in the region in about nine days to take over duties, allowing the Lincoln to be rotated out. The extended deployment comes as the US maintains a blockade of Iran amid ongoing conflict in the Strait of Hormuz.