USS George Washington Arrives in Middle East to Relieve USS Abraham Lincoln

The USS George Washington (CVN 73) arrived in the U.S. Central Command theater on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, and is currently transiting the Arabian Sea. This deployment is part of a scheduled rotation to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln. Reports indicate that the Lincoln's crew has faced challenges during its lengthy deployment, which has lasted over 250 days without a port call for more than 200 days. Family members of Lincoln sailors have expressed concerns regarding morale and mental health issues among the crew. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that reports of poor conditions aboard the Lincoln were 'completely misrepresented.' President Donald Trump commented that the deployment is 'not nearly long enough' and confirmed that the Lincoln would return home soon. CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper acknowledged that there were issues related to crew conditions but stated that they had been addressed. The USS George Washington, based in Japan, has recently operated in the South China Sea and completed a port call in Da Nang, Vietnam.