Washington, August 20: The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has announced the deployment of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington in the Middle East. This decision comes amid ongoing concerns regarding the prolonged deployment of personnel aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.
On Thursday, CENTCOM shared a photo on the social media platform X, stating, “The George Washington Carrier Strike Group is operating in the Middle East as part of its scheduled deployment after arriving in the CENTCOM area.”
The USS Abraham Lincoln has been at sea for over 260 days with approximately 5,000 military personnel. Controversy surrounding the Lincoln intensified following alarming reports regarding the mental health of some sailors on board. Several reports indicated that some sailors had attempted to jump overboard.
U.S. lawmakers and military families have called for an investigation into the effects of such extended deployments. However, the U.S. Navy has not confirmed any increase in suicide rates. The Department of Defense has also suggested that some reports regarding the ship’s condition may have been exaggerated.
Recently, Senator Richard Blumenthal wrote a lengthy letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao. He sought answers regarding the poor conditions faced by sailors on the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), including supply shortages, plumbing issues, and mental health challenges.
On social media, he shared a three-page letter questioning, “What is the department doing for the troops?” He highlighted the carrier’s extended time at sea, which exceeds 250 days.
Citing regulations, he noted that a ship’s deployment should not exceed six months, marking this as the longest deployment since the Vietnam War. The senator posed six questions regarding deployment, readiness, and health, including inquiries about the duration of the carrier’s stay, arrangements for sailors, the Navy’s preparedness for upcoming operations, and the department’s strategy.
When President Donald Trump was asked about the situation, he remarked that the ship’s deployment was “not too long in his view and not sufficient either.”
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