The USS Abraham Lincoln is beginning its journey home, per a source familiar. It comes after another ship, the USS George Washington, arrived in the Middle East to relieve the strain on the beleaguered Lincoln.
The Lincoln, however, is still in the 5th Fleet area of operations, meaning it has not yet left US Central Command’s area of responsibility, a US official told CNN. USS George Washington arrived on Wednesday as it prepares to relieve the Lincoln, the US military confirmed on Thursday.
The Lincoln has been at sea for an extended deployment during the Iran war, which sparked concerns among lawmakers and military families after reports of the crew’s worsening mental health and conditions aboard.
CNN previously reported two sailors assigned to the Lincoln strike group had jumped overboard in recent months. Both were rescued alive, US officials said.
Father of USS Lincoln service member: ‘It’s terrifying’
The father of a service member deployed on the USS Abraham Lincoln speaks to CNN’s Pamela Brown about a sailor jumping overboard and reports of mental health issues during the ship’s eight-month deployment supporting US operations during the Iran war.
Others were prevented from jumping, according to reports from the Navy Times and Stars and Stripes.
US President Donald Trump dismissed concerns, saying that the ship’s almost nine month-long deployment hadn’t been long enough, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said the ship’s conditions had been “completely misrepresented.” The US Navy recommends aircraft carrier groups be deployed for seven months.
That reaction contrasted with that of some Democratic lawmakers, like Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who demanded answers following concerns raised by families.
A crew member serving on the Lincoln described morale on the ship as very low, as well as regular strains on essential amenities — like toilets and water fountains around the ship being frequently closed and hot water often unavailable. Other sailors described to CNN conditions unlike their previous deployments, largely because of the war, which stopped the ship from making stops at friendly ports.
The Navy told CNN in a statement that it has “not observed an increase in suicidal ideations or attempts aboard the ship.”