The Trump administration has formally terminated a federal partnership with The Trevor Project, ending specialized support for LGBTQ+ youth through the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
The decision, confirmed by both The Trevor Project and officials from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), will eliminate direct routing of LGBTQ+ callers to trained crisis counselors from The Trevor Project, a mental health organization that has served queer youth for over 25 years.
The move comes just days after remarks by President Trump at a joint campaign event with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., where both criticized the inclusion of what they called “identity-based services” in federal health programs. 
“We’re going to bring back common sense to public health. One lifeline. One standard. No more identity politics in crisis response,” Trump said, to applause from the crowd in Phoenix.
What This Means for LGBTQ+ Youth
Since 2022, LGBTQ+ individuals calling 988 and selecting option 3 were routed to trained crisis counselors with experience in identity-affirming care, a resource established in response to alarming suicide rates among queer youth.
The Trevor Project reports that LGBTQ+ youth are four times more likely to attempt suicide than their non-LGBTQ+ peers.
In 2024 alone, the organization fielded more than 500,000 crisis contacts, many routed through the 988 line.
With the dissolution of the partnership, callers will still be able to speak with general 988 crisis counselors.
However, they will no longer be connected to specialized LGBTQ+ support through the federal hotline.
The Trevor Project confirmed that their separate 24/7 services remain operational at www.thetrevorproject.org and through their own direct phone and text lines.
Response from Mental Health Advocates
The decision has sparked criticism from public health experts and LGBTQ+ advocates.
“We are devastated but not surprised,” said Amit Paley, interim CEO of The Trevor Project.
“This administration has once again chosen ideology over lives. This isn’t just a political shift, it’s a direct risk to vulnerable youth who need support now more than ever.”
Mental health professionals warn that removing identity-specific options from crisis care can discourage help-seeking altogether.
“Affirming care is not a luxury. It’s evidence-based, life-saving practice,” said Dr. Monica Cruz, a licensed psychologist specializing in adolescent trauma. “This move will make the lifeline feel less safe for a population already at elevated risk.”
A Political Flashpoint
The decision highlights growing political tension around mental health services, particularly those designed for marginalized groups.
During his 2024 campaign and return to office, Trump has repeatedly targeted programs that acknowledge gender, race, or sexual identity in healthcare delivery.
Polling from Gallup and Pew Research shows that the vast majority of Americans support mental health access but support for targeted care options is split along partisan lines.
The Biden administration originally funded the LGBTQ+ subnetwork under 988, which launched in 2022 in response to growing suicide rates and pandemic-era trauma.
The Trevor Project’s involvement was seen as a groundbreaking public-private partnership in crisis care.
Now, that collaboration has been cut short.
What’s Next?
The Trevor Project and other LGBTQ+ mental health providers say they will continue to operate their standalone services, but warn that without federal coordination, access and visibility will decline.
Advocacy organizations are urging Congress and state leaders to step in. Several Democratic governors have already pledged to continue funding localized 988 LGBTQ+ routing systems at the state level.
For now, LGBTQ+ youth in crisis are being advised to contact The Trevor Project directly via their 24/7 lifeline:
1-866-488-7386
Text START to 678-678
thetrevorproject.org
As the national conversation about identity and mental health continues, the young people most affected are left to navigate the fallout with or without a lifeline that sees them for who they are.
