On Wednesday morning, news broke that the administration of MAGA Republican President Donald Trump was eliminating certain suicide and self harm resources provided through the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
The lifeline offered callers options to speak to people who specialize in meeting their needs. But the Trump administration decided this was a service that LGBTQ+ young people don't deserve.
Maggie Astor, a reporter for The New York Times, shared the breaking news on her Bluesky account.
She wrote:
"Breaking: The Trevor Project received a stop-work order last night on its contract with the national 988 suicide prevention hotline. The Trump administration is eliminating the option for LGBTQ callers to the hotline to press 3 and connect with someone who specializes in LGBTQ mental health."
@maggieastor/Bluesky
In separate comments, Astor added:
"The administration had proposed this in its 2026 budget, but now it's happening sooner. The stop-work order is effective as of July 17, a month from now."
"In a statement, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA] says it wants to not 'silo' LGBTQ services & 'focus on serving ALL help seekers.' But Trump admin has previously claimed the LGBTQ part of the hotline promotes 'radical gender ideology.' Part of the admin's anti-trans push"
"The SAMHSA statement conspicuously refers to 'LGB+ youth services,' omitting the T."
@maggieastor/Bluesky
Astor later shared The New York Times article on the Trump administration move to revoke suicide prevention services designed to help LGBTQ+ youth.
She commented:
"The administration gave varying rationales. SAMHSA said it didn't want to 'silo' services. HHS claimed spending on the LGBTQ option jeopardized the rest of the hotline. But this is part of a clearly stated Trump admin effort to eliminate services for, and recognition of, trans people writ large."
@maggieastor/Bluesky
Astor later added:
"Re-upping this. Today's news is incredibly significant and will stop many people from reaching specialized LGBTQ crisis services, but if you are a trans person reading this post, please know that the Trevor Project's direct hotline will remain available to you after the closure of the 988 option."
"It's important to note Trevor Project will still provide crisis services through its own hotline—but this decision will reduce access, bc people may know about 988 but not about Trevor Project. In 2024, TP counselors helped ~500k people, of which 231k came through the 988 line, a spokesman said."
@maggieastor/Bluesky
In April, The Trevor Project posted on their website:
"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."
Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project, stated:
"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. 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."
Unwilling to let the proposed budget cut go through congressional review and debate and possibly not be approved, Trump decided to use executive action—as he did with DOGE cuts—to end the service.
After receiving news the cut was no longer just proposed, but actually happening, Jaymes Black said in a statement:
"This is devastating, to say the least. The administration's decision to remove a bipartisan, evidence-based service that has effectively supported a high-risk group of young people through their darkest moments is incomprehensible."
Addressing the work stoppage order from the Trump administration, Wisconsin Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin issued a statement of protest and a call to action. Senator Baldwin had been instrumental in getting the service added in 2022.
She stated:
"I worked hard to stand up a special line for LGBTQ+ youth because we are losing too many of our kids to suicide, and it’s well past time we did something about it. Children facing dark times and even contemplating taking their life often have nowhere else to turn besides this 988 Lifeline, and the Trump Administration is cruelly and needlessly taking that away."
She added:
"During Pride Month, a time to celebrate the progress we’ve made, the Trump Administration is taking us a step back and telling LGBTQ+ kids that they don’t matter and don’t deserve help when they are in crisis. This is not the final chapter of this story, and I’ll fight tooth and nail to protect these children."
"Suicide prevention has been and should continue to be a nonpartisan issue, and I call on my Republican colleagues who have long supported this program to fight for these kids, too. The children and teens who rely on 988 need our help, and it’s our duty to protect this literal lifeline for hundreds of thousands before it’s too late."
According to the United States Constitution, appropriations and spending are the sole responsibility of Congress. Once funds are appropriated for a specific project or program, they cannot be shifted arbitrarily.
But Trump has made a habit of misappropriating funds—in his personal and public life. In his first term, Trump took $2.5 billion from desperately needed military construction projects—housing, roads, hospitals, family services, and maintenance on facilities—to build his never-completed border wall.
People were outraged, but unsurprised, the Trump administration found another way to marginalize the LGBTQ+ community.
@banner19/Bluesky
@awizarddidit114/Bluesky
According to official data, 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+ youth are more than four times more likely to attempt suicide. Each year, an estimated 1.8 million LGBTQ+ young people in the United States contemplate suicide and at least one young person will attempt suicide every 45 seconds.
The cruelty of these cuts isn't a byproduct.
The cruelty is the point.
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LGBTQ+ youth can get help through:
- TrevorChat — 24/7/365 at https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/#services
- TrevorLifeline — phone service available 24/7 at 1-866-488-7386
- TrevorText — Text “START” to 678678 Available 24/7/365
- TrevorSpace — online international peer-to-peer community for LGBTQ young people and their friends at https://www.trevorspace.org/
- Trevor Support Center — LGBTQ youth & allies can find answers to FAQs and explore resources at https://www.thetrevorproject.org/resources/guide/additional-resources/#sm.0000121hx9lvicotqs52mb1saenel
Additionally, these resources are available through Inclusive Therapists.com/crisis
- Blackline: 800-604-5841 Centers BIPOC, LGBTQ+ Black Femme Lens
- Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860 (US), 877-330-6366 (Canada) Run by and for Trans people
- Wildflower Alliance Peer Support Line: 888-407-4515 Trained peer supporters
- Strong Hearts Native Helpline: 844-762-8483 Centering Native Americans & Alaska Natives
- Thrive Lifeline: 313-662-8209 Trans-led and operated
- LGBT National Help Center: 888-843-4564
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