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 services. 

“Suicide prevention is about risk, not identity. Ending the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ youth specialized services will not just strip away access from millions of LGBTQ+ kids and teens – it will put their lives at risk,” said Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project. “These programs were implemented to address a proven, unprecedented, and ongoing mental health crisis among our nation’s young people with strong bipartisan support in Congress and signed into law by President Trump himself.”

“I want to be clear to all LGBTQ+ young people: This news, while upsetting, is not final. And regardless of federal funding shifts, The Trevor Project remains available 24/7 for anyone who needs us, just as we always have.”

“To end suicide in this country, we need more resources – not fewer. We urge the Administration to maintain its long-standing commitment to ending suicide among high-risk populations, especially our nation’s young people. We urge Congress to defend its establishment of this data-based, bipartisan program to allow its life-saving services to continue for generations to come. We do not have to agree on every policy issue to agree that every young life is worth saving.”

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people aged 10 to 14, and the third leading cause of death among 15-24 year olds. LGBTQ+ young people are more than four times as likely to attempt suicide than their peers. The Trevor Project estimates that more than 1.8 million LGBTQ+ young people in the United States seriously consider suicide each year, and at least one attempts suicide every 45 seconds. 

In total, the 988 Lifeline has served more than 14 million crisis contacts since its creation. Following best practices for suicide prevention, Congress directed The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to create specialized services that support the most at-risk populations in the United States. These services were implemented to support veterans, LGBTQ+ youth, and non-English speakers who contacted The 988 Lifeline.

“Suicide remains a serious public health concern in the U.S., and we know from research that certain groups have higher risk, including Veterans and LGBTQ+ youth. This is why these groups have dedicated services within the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, where uniquely trained counselors help prevent suicide in these disproportionately impacted populations,” said Robert Gebbia, CEO of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. “We understand that funding may be eliminated for 988 LGBTQ+ specialized services, and we urge the administration to continue its existing support for crisis services, including those for at-risk LGBTQ+ youth. These crisis response services are effective and save young lives.”

In September 2022, The Trevor Project began providing services through the 988 Lifeline targeted to LGBTQ+ young people. When individuals contacted the 988 via phone, text, or chat, they were given the option to “press 3” or “reply PRIDE” to be connected with counselors trained specifically to assist LGBTQ+ contacts up to age 25. Initially, The Trevor Project served as the sole provider for the pilot phase of 988 LGBTQ+ youth specialized services, before transitioning to serve as one of seven centers that currently make up the LGBTQ+ Youth Subnetwork.

The Trevor Project serves nearly 50% of the LGBTQ+ youth specialized services’ contact volume. In 2024 alone, The Trevor Project directly servedmore than 231,000 crisis contacts, and trained and supported nearly 250 crisis counselors and operational support staff through the 988 Lifeline. Previously, The LGBTQ+ Youth Subnetwork received an estimated $50 million in dollars in restricted federal funds to provide these life-saving services.

If you or someone you know needs help or support, The Trevor Project’s trained crisis counselors are available 24/7 at 1-866-488-7386, via chat at TheTrevorProject.org/Get-Help, or by texting START to 678678.