First Thing: US aircraft carrier arrives to relieve USS Lincoln amid reports of poor living conditions
The USS George Washington has arrived in the Middle East. Plus, an investigation into the add-on utility fees that can lead to evictions Good morning. The USS George Washington aircraft carrier has arrived in the Middle East , to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln from its record deployment amid concerns about poor living conditions and morale. What are conditions like on the Lincoln? The ship has…
The USS George Washington has docked in the Middle East to take over the USS Abraham Lincoln's deployment, following reports of subpar living conditions and low morale among the ship's 5,000 crew members. The Lincoln has been at sea for over 250 days, supporting US operations against Iran without a major port visit or return to base for the sailors and marines onboard.
Families of crew members have shared accounts of food and water shortages, interrupted mail services, plumbing issues, and declining mental health, leading Democratic lawmakers to question the Pentagon. At least 13 lawsuits have been filed since the beginning of 2025 in five states, with a California case resulting in a $500,000 settlement for a national property manager.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta criticized landlords attempting to evade illegal rent increases by shifting utility and other fees to tenants, labeling them as "rent" contrary to state law. Similar efforts to curb or prohibit add-on utility fees are also gaining traction in numerous cities.
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