The US aircraft carrier USS George Washington has begun moving from Vietnam to the Middle East after reports emerged of mental health and supply problems aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.
The war with Iran has extended the Lincoln's deployment at sea by more than 260 days. Several Democratic lawmakers are demanding accountability from the Pentagon for the carrier's conditions, which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said were grossly misrepresented.
"Some deployments are longer than others. We make sure every ship, every crew, every captain has everything we can provide them at any given moment. What they do on the high seas in those harsh conditions with fewer ports is incredible," Hegseth said.
Two leading military publications, the Navy Times and Stars and Stripes, reported that there have been multiple attempts by sailors to jump ship as the harsh conditions and mental stress on the Lincoln reach their peak. The crew is in its ninth month at sea and has had only two days ashore since the ship set sail from San Diego on November 21. The deployment was supposed to end in May but has been extended several times due to the ongoing war.
"There are widespread reports of shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, plumbing problems, deteriorating mental health, concerns about safety on deck, and disruptions to the postal system," said US Senator Richard Blumenthal.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the George Washington will replace the Lincoln as one of two aircraft carriers currently stationed in the Middle East. A US official said the replacement had been planned in advance.
