Bipartisan Lawmakers, Advocates Condemn Shutdown of 988 LGBTQ+ Crisis Lifeline
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the 988 LGBTQ+ crisis support line is being shut down as previously ordered by the Trump Administration. In response, a bipartisan group of federal lawmakers and national mental health advocates spoke out against the harmful decision and called for its immediate reversal. Today’s event follows an earlier plea to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., urging his office to “scrap this ill-advised plan.”
Since its launch in 2022, the LGBTQ+ subline under the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline has been a critical, life-saving resource for LGBTQ+ youth and adults facing mental health crises. The line has handled nearly 1.3 million calls, texts, and chats from LGBTQ+ individuals seeking support. Its closure comes at a time of growing need — just last year, nearly 40 percent of LGBTQ+ youth seriously considered suicide, according to national surveys.
WATCH: Bipartisan Lawmakers Urge Protection of 988 LGBTQ+ Crisis Support Line
“The 988 LGBTQ+ line is not just a phone number — it’s a lifeline,” said Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS-03). “This resource has helped save lives and connect LGBTQ+ youth with trained counselors who understand their experiences. It’s deeply disturbing that the Trump Administration is choosing to dismantle this service at a time when so many young people are in crisis. Ending it now is dangerous, and I’m proud to stand with colleagues from both parties to fight for its restoration.”
“We all know someone with a mental health condition because it’s just as common as heart disease or diabetes in America,” said Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA-06). “That is true in every corner of the country, in red states as well as blue. That’s why mental health should never be political, especially when it comes to kids. It’s alarming that the Trump administration would rather leave LGBTQ+ youth at risk instead of simply keeping the Trevor Project line of 988 funded. We are going to keep pushing back until the funding is restored – lives depend on it.”
“The Trump Administration is once again attacking the LGBTQI+ community by terminating the 988 lifeline. This is cruel, and this is unacceptable,” said Rep. Andrea Salinas (D-OR-06). “Mental health is not a partisan issue, and our children should not be used as pawns in President Trump’s purely political game. I’m committed to expanding access to specialty mental health care, and I won’t stop fighting until everyone can access the affordable, high-quality care they deserve.”
“For the past three years, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline has been a lifesaving resource for millions of Americans,” said Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA-07). “The Trump Administration’s cruel decision to shut down the 988 Lifeline's LGBTQ+ youth option will cost lives. One of every twelve callers to the general 988 crisis line is an LGBTQ+ youth. These calls aren’t just statistics. These are real kids, with names, with families, and with dreams. I’m proud to stand with my colleagues to demand that this critical funding continue.”
“Stripping away specialized crisis services for LGBTQ+ youth is an act of cruelty, not cost-cutting,” said Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY-20). “This was a lifeline for nearly 1.3 million young people, many of whom had nowhere else to turn. We should be expanding this support, not dismantling it to appease homophobic extremists.”
“LGBTQ+ youth are four times more likely to attempt suicide than their peers. It should not be a political issue, but a matter of basic human decency to restore the 988 hotline’s specialized services that have been proven to save LGBTQ+ children’s lives,” said Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH-01). “We all know someone who struggles with their mental health. We will continue to call on the administration to right this wrong and make them see why they must fund these critical services for LGBTQ+ youth.”
The decision to shut down the LGBTQ+ subline has drawn widespread concern from mental health experts and civil rights organizations, including The Trevor Project, which helped establish the dedicated line in partnership with the federal government. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ own data shows the subline has significantly expanded access to crisis care for LGBTQ+ individuals, especially youth in underserved communities.
Today’s press conference included Representatives Sharice Davids (D-KS-03), Seth Moulton (D-MA-06), Doris Matsui (D-CA-07), Paul Tonko (D-NY-20), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Chris Pappas (D-NH-01), Andrea Salinas (D-OR-06), Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), and representatives from The Trevor Project, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). The bipartisan group emphasized that the LGBTQ+ subline is not duplicative or political — it is a proven, specialized tool that meets a real and growing public health need.
"The 988 Lifeline's 'press 3' option represents a landmark, bipartisan achievement that has connected more than 1.5 million LGBTQ+ youth in crisis with life-saving care during their darkest moments,” said Jaymes Black, CEO, The Trevor Project. “Ending our country's suicide crisis is about people, not politics -- and we are devastated that the federal government has prioritized a political agenda over saving the lives of at-risk young Americans. Even in the wake of this difficult news, we express our enormous gratitude to the champions in Congress and across the mental health space who have fought to protect these life-saving services -- and who continue to fight for a country that supports the health, happiness, and safety of LGBTQ+ young people everywhere. For any LGBTQ+ young person who needs help or support, The Trevor Project's counselors are still here for you 24/7 -- no matter what. Visit TheTrevorProject.org/Get-Help."
“LGBTQ+ youth face unique challenges — including stigma, discrimination, and elevated stress — that contribute to a suicide attempt rate more than four times higher than their non-LGBTQ+ peers,” said Robert Gebbia, Chief Executive Officer, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. “Recognizing the urgent need for culturally competent support, Congress established a dedicated crisis line for LGBTQ+ youth in 2022. Since then, usage has grown steadily, with over 1.4 million contacts as of June 2025. We are grateful to Representatives Moulton, Krishnamoorthi, Davids, Matsui, Salinas, Tonko, Pappas, Fitzpatrick, and Lawler for championing continued support for this life-saving resource. At a time when youth, including LGBTQ+ youth, are facing a mental health crisis, eliminating specialized services would endanger lives.”
“Since its launch, over 1.3 million individuals have reached out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s specialized services for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults. The importance of talking to someone who understands your experience or has a shared experience with you is invaluable, and it has saved countless lives,” said Hannah Wesolowski, Chief Advocacy Officer, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). “NAMI urges the Administration to immediately reverse its decision eliminating these specialized services and to support resources for the mental health of our LGBTQ+ friends and family, who are tragically at a higher risk of suicide.”
If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call, text, or chat with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.