# USS Lincoln’s 250-day deployment fuels alarm over sailor morale 2026-08-13T22:44:32+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 3 independent outlets The USS Abraham Lincoln has been at sea for over 250 days, one of the longest uninterrupted deployments for a US carrier in recent years. Reports from Navy Times and Stars and Stripes, cited by Reuters, describe suicide attempts, supply shortages, and declining morale among the 5,000 sailors aboard. The carrier has been in the Middle East since January, supporting US operations against Iran. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called the accounts 'completely misrepresented' and praised the crew’s endurance. Senator Richard Blumenthal has demanded answers, citing problems with water, plumbing, mail, and mental health. The Navy acknowledges that combat disrupted supply routes, leading to shortages and mail delays, but says food is now adequate. The USS George Washington is now moving from the Pacific toward the Middle East and is expected to relieve the Lincoln. The shift leaves the Pacific without a US carrier presence, amid tensions with China. ## Coverage - livemint.com - indiatoday.in - hindustantimes.com Tags: Iran conflict, Middle East deployment, sailor morale, US Navy, USS Abraham Lincoln, USS George Washington Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/uss-george-washington-heads-to-middle-east-to-relieve-strained-lincoln/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/uss-george-washington-heads-to-middle-east-to-relieve-strained-lincoln/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.