Local
Bremerton prepares for USS Abraham Lincoln and about 3,000 Navy families
The carrier is scheduled to shift its homeport from San Diego to Bremerton in late 2026, bringing roughly 3,000 crew members and their families. The Navy says the move will support strategic ship dispersal and planned maintenance, while local officials anticipate an economic boost and are preparing additional housing and child-care capacity.
The USS Abraham Lincoln is expected to move its homeport from Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego to Bremerton in late 2026, bringing about 3,000 sailors and their families to the Kitsap County area.
The Navy says the transfer is intended to keep its ships strategically dispersed and allow long-planned maintenance to help extend the Nimitz-class carrier’s service life. Officials have not provided a detailed schedule for the move or specified how much maintenance the ship will need.
Bremerton Mayor Greg Wheeler said the Navy’s presence brings jobs and economic activity to the city. He said revenue associated with the shipyard accounts for 55% of Kitsap County’s sales-tax income.
The arriving sailors are expected to have access to a new 300-bed barracks and a child development center. Naval Base Kitsap Commanding Officer Alex Baerg said the base is also modernizing unaccompanied housing and expanding dining options.
Bremerton has hosted aircraft carriers before. The Abraham Lincoln is returning to Washington roughly two decades after leaving its former homeport in Everett. The USS Ronald Reagan left Bremerton in September after undergoing major maintenance that began in 2024.
The Lincoln returned to San Diego in early October following a 321-day deployment. During the deployment, crew members reported concerns about living conditions, limited meal options and mental-health strains. Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao said eight sailors allegedly attempted suicide during the deployment; no sailors died by suicide aboard the ship. The carrier made a port stop in Pattaya, Thailand, on Sept. 2, according to the report.
Some Bremerton residents and business owners welcomed the planned move, saying sailors could bring customers and renewed activity downtown. The arrival also means the Navy and local agencies will need to coordinate around housing, services and the needs of incoming families.