WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pacific-based aircraft carrier USS George Washington has begun heading toward the Middle East, according to Navy statements and open source information on the ship's movements.
This comes as reports have emerged of mental health and supply issues aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, whose long deployment to the Middle East in support of the Iran war includes a record-setting uninterrupted time at sea of more than 240 days.
The USS George Washington left port in Da Nang, Vietnam, last week, according to a Navy statement. The carrier, along with a cruiser and a destroyer, have since been spotted crossing the Singapore Strait.
A Navy official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to detail sensitive ship movements, confirmed that the USS George Washington was in the Strait of Malacca, which links the Pacific and Indian oceans. That puts the ship on a course to head into the Indian Ocean. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier that the Washington would replace the Lincoln.
The Lincoln is one of two aircraft carriers now stationed in the Middle East as the conflict simmers and the Navy imposes a blockade on Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for the global oil and natural gas trade.
The carrier originally deployed Nov. 21 from San Diego, and it arrived in the region in January, ahead of the launch of the Iran war on Feb. 28. The Navy conceded that the conflict created a “highly contested environment where traditional supply hubs in the Middle East were disrupted by combat actions." That, in turn, led to shortages and loss of mail aboard the aircraft carrier, the Navy said in a statement.
“Leadership prioritized mission-critical supplies: first food, then hygiene items, then mail,” the statement said, before assuring that sailors aboard the ship now have access to clean water and “healthy meal options.”
Several Democratic lawmakers have released statements calling for investigations, more information and greater visibility into conditions aboard the USS Lincoln.
“The Lincoln’s prolonged deployment is especially significant because it is occurring in the context of continuing military operations against Iran and the possibility that substantial US naval forces will be required in the region for an extended period,” Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal wrote in his letter to Navy leadership.
Navy leaders, including acting Secretary Hung Cao, last week held a tense town hall for families of the USS Lincoln at which the commanders of the Navy’s air and surface forces promised to do everything they could to relieve the aircraft carrier. MS Now reported earlier on the meeting.
When reports of food shortages aboard the ship surfaced in April, the Navy pushed back, calling those reports “false.”
Other carriers also have had long runs that have raised concerns about morale. The USS Gerald R. Ford returned home in mid-May after an 11-month deployment, the longest since the Vietnam War, that had it support the U.S. war with Iran and the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
FILE - The USS George Washington aircraft carrier is pictured off the coast of Argentina, May 30, 2024.(AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano, File)
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — A new coaching staff and another chance to get accustomed to Buffalo's new stadium led to Bills coach Joe Brady’s decision to have Josh Allen and the rest of his healthy starters play in the team’s preseason opener against Carolina on Saturday.
“We obviously have a new everything,” Brady said Thursday. “So it’s our first opportunity for us to come together and show an example of what the Buffalo Bills are about. So I think that’s important.”
Brady is a first-year head coach, with Buffalo's former offensive coordinator promoted to take over after Sean McDermott’s firing in January. The game will provide Brady an opportunity to get a feel for his new role, and working with a staff that’s undergone numerous changes this offseason.
And the outing presents the Bills a chance to get more accustomed to their new $2.1 billion home in a game situation. The game comes a week after the Bills held their first practice in Highmark Stadium, built across the street from their former home.
For Allen, the preseason appearance will become his first in two years. The ninth-year player was held out of all three of Buffalo’s preseason games last year, and hasn’t made an appearance since playing the first quarter of the Bills preseason opener against Chicago on Aug. 10, 2024.
“New environment. New routine,” said Allen, who has previously been in favor of playing preseason games.
“We want to make sure this is real game-like as possible because it is a real game,” he added, looking ahead to Buffalo's regular-season opener against Detroit on Sept. 17. “To have those reps before the first game when we have it here on Thursday night, just understanding the process behind everything and not being surprised by anything new.”
Among the items on Allen's checklist include getting accustomed to the field — the Bills have made the switch to natural grass from artificial turf. There's getting familiar with where the game clocks are situated, and also adjusting to the lights, which are now located below the roof canopy as opposed to being on top of towers overlooking the old field.
Brady said a final determination on who plays and how much will be made following practice.
First-year defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard had previously announced having his starters play on Saturday. Buffalo’s defense has undergone the most changes this offseason, with Leonhard introducing a 3-4 system and the unit expected to feature at least five new starters.
Several injured starters are not expected to play, including center Connor McGovern, safeties C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Cole Bishop and cornerback Maxwell Hairston. The four players have missed at least several days of practice, though Brady has not revealed their injuries or a timeline for their returns.
After traveling to Cleveland next week for a joint scrimmage followed by a preseason game on Aug. 22, the Bills will close their schedule by hosting Pittsburgh on Aug. 27.
See AP’s full NFL coverage here
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) plays catch with fans during practice at the team's NFL football training camp Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) walks on the field during practice at the team's NFL football training camp Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen looks to throw during practice at the team's NFL football training camp Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
