U.S. Navy strain highlighted by record-long carrier deployment

The USS Abraham Lincoln recently completed a 260-day stint at sea without a port call, a record that highlights the strain on the U.S. carrier fleet. Although the Navy nominally fields 11 carriers, most are tied up in home-port upkeep or multi-year overhauls, limiting available replacements. Ongoing operations against Venezuela and Iran have stretched the remaining vessels, with the USS Gerald Ford returning after a ten-month deployment and the USS John F. Kennedy delayed in joining the fleet.

The only carrier positioned to relieve the Lincoln, the USS George Washington, arrived in the Middle East this week. In response, the administration proposes allowing foreign shipbuilders to construct ships in the U.S. and reverting to steam catapults on future Ford-class carriers, while also expanding missile production. These initiatives require a permanent boost in defense spending, which hinges on congressional approval of both the base budget and supplemental funds.