The Coast Guard worries several Gulf Coast yards are competing for a limited pool of workers, putting several shipbuilding programs at risk of delay.
The exercises involved more than 11,000 U.S. personnel who are on station there in case the Israel-Hamas war erupts into a larger conflict.
The ship is underway to support operations in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, U.S. 6th Fleet said Wednesday.
The carrier is being sent as part of an effort to "deter hostile actions against Israel," Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said.
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