USS George Washington Takes Over Middle East Operations as USS Lincoln Concludes Extended Deployment

The USS George Washington carrier strike group has begun operations in the Middle East after arriving Wednesday, according to an announcement Thursday from U.S. Central Command. The Asia-based vessel assumes responsibility for the region as the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has faced scrutiny over crew welfare concerns, prepares to return home following nearly nine months of continuous deployment.

The Lincoln’s extended tour included more than 250 consecutive days at sea—a record for the carrier—and sparked concern among Democratic lawmakers over reported mental health challenges and supply shortages affecting sailors. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has characterized such concerns as “completely misrepresented,” though he visited the crew last week to assess conditions firsthand.

Adm. Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command, visited the Lincoln over the weekend and published remarks Sunday in The Wall Street Journal, telling the crew they had “delivered a performance for the ages, and now you are going home.” The Lincoln departed its San Diego homeport in November and arrived in the Middle East in January.

President Donald Trump downplayed concerns about the deployment’s length Monday, characterizing nearly nine months at sea as a “good period of time” and noting longer deployments have occurred historically. Trump said a retired admiral assured him the carrier is “beautifully maintained and beautifully taken care of,” though he did not identify the officer.

The arrival of the Washington leaves the Pacific without a dedicated American carrier strike group for the first time in years, as the Navy maintains focus on Middle East operations. The repositioning reflects the Trump administration’s emphasis on Iran operations and Western Hemisphere priorities, with analysts noting the sustained commitments are straining naval personnel and resources.