In a bombshell announcement, the Trump administration has decided to streamline crisis services by ending a specialized LGBTQ+ hotline option.
The move comes as the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline refocuses on serving all Americans equally without assigning identity groups.
The Trump administration revealed that it will restructure the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by removing a specialized option for LGBTQ+ youth starting July 17.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) emphasized that skilled crisis counselors will remain available to all Americans seeking emotional support, regardless of background.
The decision represents a shift toward treating all Americans equally when they reach out for help.
The administration’s decision has been framed as moving toward a more inclusive approach where trained professionals can assist anyone in crisis without pre-sorting them into identity groups.
Critics like The Trevor Project CEO Jaymes Black have attacked the decision, “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,” Black continued.
The option that is being removed was originally implemented as a pilot program when the 988 service launched in 2022.
After evaluation, officials determined that specialized siloing of callers was unnecessary when professional counselors are already trained to help all Americans.
The 988 Lifeline will continue providing access to the same skilled counselors who are already trained to assist people from all backgrounds and with all types of emotional distress.
The change coincides with a broader reorganization of SAMHSA into a new Administration for a Healthy America.
Since the launch of the 988 hotline in 2022, the service has seen a 40% increase in calls, proving Americans value this resource.
Democrats have described the decision as an attack, with Senator Tammy Baldwin condemning the move despite the fact that no services are actually being cut.
“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,” she stated.
The 988 Lifeline will continue operating 24/7 with the same counselors, the only change is removing an unnecessary segregation of callers by identity.
The Trevor Project’s separate hotline continues to operate independently, though it acknowledges it cannot handle the same call volume as the federal 988 service.
