First Thing: US aircraft carrier arrives to relieve USS Lincoln amid reports of poor living conditions

The USS George Washington has arrived in the Middle East. Plus, an investigation into the add-on utility fees that can lead to evictions

Good morning.

The USS George Washington aircraft carrier has arrived in the Middle East, to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln from its record deployment amid concerns about poor living conditions and morale.

What are conditions like on the Lincoln? The ship has spent more than 250 days at sea supporting US operations against Iran without a significant port visit or date to return home for the 5,000 sailors and marines onboard. Reports from families of crew members published in the Navy Times and Stars and Stripes military newspapers described food and water shortages, disrupted mail services, plumbing problems, low morale and worsening mental health, prompting Democratic lawmakers to demand answers from the Pentagon.

How are people fighting back? At least 13 lawsuits have challenged Rubs since the start of 2025 across five states - including a case in California that led to a nearly $500,000 settlement last fall with a national property manager. Some California landlords have tried to get away with illegal rent increases by shifting utilities and other fees to tenants and pretending those new charges are not rent'" under state law, Rob Bonta, California's attorney general, said when announcing the settlement. Efforts to limit or ban add-on utility fees are also gaining momentum across several cities.