Is the GW the next deployable carrier? Is there another that could be deployed more quickly if absolutely necessary?
I would assume the Bush and the Nimitz are both in sustainment/surge ready status, since they recently returned from deployments. They could probably deploy quickly if needed. The Roosevelt is currently working up for deployment, probably some time around March 2024. The GW is at least a couple months behind the Roosevelt, and doesn’t even have an air wing assigned. The Reagan is forward deployed to Japan, and in an emergency could be pushed to the middle east. The USS America (LHA 6), also forward deployed in Japan, could probably deploy if needed, and can carry about 20 F-35B’s when configured as a “pocket carrier”.