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Closed: Trump Admin Officially Shuts Down the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services

July 17, 2025 – The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has officially terminated the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services program. Starting today, contacts who reach out to the 988 Lifeline will no longer have the option to “press 3,” “text PRIDE,” or connect via online chat to a counselor who is trained in supporting LGBTQ+ young people under age 25.  Since 2022, the 988 Lifeline has provided evidence-backed, specialized services to the country’s highest risk groups for suicide, including veterans and LGBTQ+ youth. As of today, this federal program that has provided best-practice…
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Trump Administration Orders Termination of National LGBTQ+ Youth Suicide Lifeline, Effective July 17th

June 18, 2025 – The Trevor Project received official notice yesterday that the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is initiating the closure of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services program within 30 days, effective July 17, 2025. Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project, released the following statement in response: “We received official notice that the Trump administration has ordered the closure of The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services program, effective July 17, 2025. This means that, in 30 short days, this program that has provided life-saving services to…
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What to Know About 988 Funding 

It was reported that a leaked, draft version of the administration's proposed federal budget asks Congress to eliminate funding for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s specialized services for LGBTQ+ youth after September 30, 2025. This was confirmed on June 6, 2025 when the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released the full budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2026. While The Trevor Project continues to advocate for continued funding for these life-saving programs, we have also observed the spread of rumors and misinformation on social media.  This is a quick-reference resource that provides clarity around confirmed information that our experts know as…
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Confirmed: White House Officially Proposes Cutting National Suicide Lifeline for LGBTQ+ Youth

The Trump administration’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2026 calls to eliminate funding for the 988 Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ youth services, confirming leaked reports June 9, 2025 – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released the full budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2026, following a draft proposal which leaked in April, confirming that the federal government has officially proposed to eliminate all funding for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services. This federal program, which was signed into law during President Trump’s first term with bipartisan support, provides emergency crisis support to LGBTQ+ youth considering suicide.…
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An Open Letter to LGBTQ+ Youth: We Will Not Stop Fighting for You

We are heartbroken by the proposal to eliminate federal funding for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services — a move that will have devastating, life-threatening consequences for young people across the country. As artists, creators, and public figures, our platforms come with responsibility. And today, that responsibility is clear: we must speak out to protect the mental health and lives of LGBTQ+ youth. We will not stay silent. Since its launch in 2022, this program has connected nearly 1.3 million crisis contacts with life-saving, affirming care to LGBTQ+ young people during their most vulnerable moments. Suicide…
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Celebrities Sign The Trevor Project’s Open Letter to Protect Federal Funding for LGBTQ+ Youth Suicide Prevention

Entertainment industry – across film, music, TV, sports, theatre, comedy, fashion, culinary arts, and book publishing – come together to support LGBTQ+ young people June 2, 2025 – The Trevor Project, the leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ young people, published an open letter today to protect an estimated $50 million in federal funding for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services. The letter was signed by more than 100 celebrities across the entertainment industry, spanning film, music, TV, sports, theatre, comedy, fashion, culinary arts, and book publishing. A draft of the U.S. Department…
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Trump Administration Proposes Defunding Suicide Lifeline for LGBTQ+ Youth Beginning October 2025

During a national mental health crisis, federal cuts would halt life-saving services that more than 1.2 million LGBTQ+ youth have relied on April 21, 2025 – A leaked budget draft revealed the federal government has proposed to eliminate all funding for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services – a federal program that provides emergency crisis support to LGBTQ+ youth considering suicide – effective October 1, 2025. Since being implemented in 2022, this program, funded through The United States Department of Health and Human Services, has provided more than 1.2 million crisis contacts with life-saving, LGBTQ+-inclusive crisis…
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What 988 Means For LGBTQ Young People

After years of planning, advocating and communicating, 988, the new three-digit code for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, went live today. As of today, people across the country can dial 9-8-8 if they are experiencing a mental or behavioral health emergency and connect to the help they need. The launch of the 988 lifeline is a watershed moment for transforming the U.S.’ crisis care system and provides the opportunity for safe, accessible, equitable care — supported by local mobile crisis teams. This will hopefully make accessing mental health crisis services easier for those in need, and The Trevor Project is…