New aircraft carrier heads toward Mideast after reports of issues on long-deployed USS Lincoln

The Pacific-based aircraft carrier USS George Washington has commenced its journey towards the Middle East following reports of mental health and supply issues aboard the long-serving USS Abraham Lincoln. The Lincoln, which has been supporting the U.S. war against Iran, has been at sea for over 240 days without a break. Several Democratic lawmakers are urging the Pentagon to address the conditions onboard the carrier, which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth denied were misrepresented.

While Iran tensions have eased in recent weeks, the Navy has resumed a blockade on Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz, and the Trump administration has not clarified its plans to end the conflict. The USS George Washington, along with a cruiser and a destroyer, departed from Da Nang, Vietnam last week, and is now crossing the Strait of Malacca, en route to the Indian Ocean.

This move would leave the Pacific without a U.S. carrier presence for an unknown duration. Critics argue this deployment leaves a power vacuum in the region that could be exploited by China, the dominant force there. The Lincoln was initially deployed on November 21 from San Diego and arrived in the Middle East in January, ahead of the Iran war's launch on February 28.

The Navy acknowledged supply disruptions and mail shortages due to the conflict. Democrats are demanding scrutiny into the situation, while the Pentagon maintains the conditions are misrepresented.