In a May 7-dated letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., seven lawmakers — led by Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc. — wrote that the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services pilot program “provides lifesaving services to LGBTQ+ youth, who face a higher risk of significant mental health challenges and barriers to receiving care than their peers.”
A 2024 survey conducted by The Trevor Project that was cited in the senators’ letter found that 39% of LGBTQ+ respondents “seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year.” The proposal to slash the LGBTQ+ youth suicide and crisis hotline, however, comes as the Trump administration continues to purge programs related to various diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility programs across the federal government.
A leaked HHS budget proposal reviewed by NPR last month included cutting funding for the LGBTQ+-focused hotline, along with other programs — such as Head Start — that were placed on the chopping block. The White House’s FY26 budget request is a plan outlining funding priorities, and it remains up to Congress to approve the final budget.
The three-digit 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline was launched in 2022 and is overseen by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The lifeline is available 24/7 to those living in all U.S. states and territories and provides individuals experiencing ..
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