The USS Abraham Lincoln is back at its home base in San Diego, concluding a deployment of some 11 months that included support in the Iran War. The return marks one of the longest stretches the aircraft carrier has spent away from its home port.
NPR's Ailsa Chang spoke with Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., about the homecoming. The conversation, broadcast on October 8, 2026, at 5:43 PM ET, focused on what the extended deployment meant for the ship's crew and the San Diego community that supports them.
The USS Abraham Lincoln's deployment included operations tied to the Iran War, underscoring the carrier's role in projecting U.S. naval power abroad. Its return to San Diego restores a significant military presence to the region's waterfront and brings hundreds of sailors back to their families.
For local readers, the homecoming carries economic and civic weight. San Diego's identity as a major naval hub means the ship's extended absence was felt across the community, from local businesses that serve military families to the support networks that sustain them during long separations.
Rep. Jacobs, who represents a California district, has been a voice on military and veterans' issues. Her discussion with NPR highlighted the significance of the carrier's return after nearly a year away.
The USS Abraham Lincoln's arrival in San Diego was reported by NPR on October 8, 2026. The ship's return closes a chapter of extended service that placed it at the center of U.S. operations in the Iran War.
