In a move that has drawn widespread outrage and disbelief, the Trump administration has ordered the termination of the only national suicide prevention lifeline dedicated specifically to LGBTQ youth. The shutdown, which takes effect July 17, ends a critical service that has supported tens of thousands of young people in crisis across the United States.
The decision, revealed in multiple reports and confirmed by The Trevor Project, the organization contracted to operate the LGBTQ-specific 988 hotline, was not based on performance or funding concerns. Instead, sources from within the Department of Health and Human Services indicate that the closure was motivated by political ideology, following months of behind-the-scenes pressure from anti-LGBTQ figures aligned with the administration.
“This is a life-and-death issue,” said Amit Paley, CEO of The Trevor Project. “The 988 lifeline has been a critical resource for LGBTQ youth experiencing suicidal thoughts, family rejection, and mental health crises. Removing this support puts lives at risk. There is no justification for it.”
Launched in partnership with the federal government, the LGBTQ 988 subline was created to ensure that when queer youth call or text in moments of crisis, they are connected with trained counselors who understand their unique experiences. According to The Trevor Project, nearly 500,000 calls, chats, and texts were routed to the subline in the past year alone—many from young transgender people who face disproportionately high rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide attempts.
The administration’s justification, according to an internal memo obtained by NBC News, centers around claims of “budget realignment” and “removing identity-based programs.” However, critics argue that the termination reflects a broader rollback of LGBTQ protections under Trump’s second term and a deep disregard for the lives of queer youth.
“This is not a fiscal decision. It’s a moral failure,” said Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), who has called for an emergency congressional hearing. “It’s cruelty, plain and simple. LGBTQ youth already face unimaginable mental health burdens. To take away their lifeline is unthinkable.”
The move has drawn backlash from mental health professionals, LGBTQ organizations, and even some conservative voices who see the decision as gratuitously harmful. Dr. Jack Turban, a psychiatrist who specializes in youth mental health, called the decision “potentially catastrophic,” noting that LGBTQ youth are more than four times as likely to attempt suicide than their cisgender, heterosexual peers.
The Trevor Project emphasized that it will continue its own crisis services outside of the 988 framework. “We are not going anywhere,” Paley said. “We will do everything in our power to ensure LGBTQ young people continue to have access to trained crisis counselors who affirm their identity and support their survival.”
Still, the loss of federal integration with the national suicide prevention system is a significant blow and a chilling message from the federal government to one of the nation’s most vulnerable populations.
For LGBTQ youth, especially transgender individuals already under political attack, the closure of this hotline is more than policy; it’s personal. It sends a dangerous signal that their pain is disposable, their lives unworthy of protection.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, you can still contact The Trevor Project’s 24/7 hotline directly at 1-866-488-7386 or text “START” to 678678.
