US Navy Shifts USS Abraham Lincoln Home Port to Washington

The United States Navy is permanently shifting the home port of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln from San Diego, California, to Naval Base Kitsap in Bremerton, Washington. Scheduled for completion by the end of 2026, the move relocates approximately 5,000 crew members and their families to allow the vessel to undergo long-planned maintenance at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard to maximize combat readiness.

The relocation follows the ship's return on October 8 from a deployment in support of Operation Epic Fury, the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran. The mission lasted over 320 days, during which the crew spent between 260 and 286 consecutive days at sea without a port visit—the second-longest such stretch since the Vietnam War. The only respite during the tour was a brief resupply call in Thailand.

The extended deployment caused severe morale issues and mental health challenges. Acting Navy Secretary Cao Ba Hung reported eight suicide attempts within the carrier strike group, a detail released via Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. In response, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed crew concerns regarding food shortages and poor communication upon their return, while California Governor Gavin Newsom provided state mental health services for the affected service members.