Trump Administration Revives 988 LGBTQ+ Youth Line With $33 Million, Potentially Excluding Trevor Project
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 26
Trump Administration Revives 988 LGBTQ+ Youth Line With $33 Million, Potentially Excluding Trevor Project
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 26
Summary
$33 million in congressionally directed funding is pushing the Trump administration to restore the 988 Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ youth “press 3” service by year-end after it shut the option last July.
Vibrant Emotional Health has reopened applications to run the service, but only for current 988 network members—a rule that could bar The Trevor Project because the canceled program was the one it specialized in.
The Trevor Project handled about half of the program’s 1.6 million contacts, while the specialized line let users press 3, text “PRIDE” or use chat to reach counselors trained for LGBTQ+ youth.
Suicide-prevention experts and Senator Tammy Baldwin say excluding Trevor could weaken care for a high-risk group, with Trevor warning transgender and non-binary youth may be left out of the relaunched service.
Why might a life-saving hotline exclude its most experienced provider due to a technicality?
Can a top crisis-care provider be trusted if its own research on suicide is now under scientific fire?
1.3 Million LGBTQ+ Youth Reached—But Will 988 Lifeline’s Relaunch Without The Trevor Project Meet the Need?
Overview
Congress has mandated the restart of LGBTQ+-specific support for youth through the 988 Lifeline, leading the Trump administration to plan a relaunch of the 'Press 3' option by the end of 2026. The Department of Health and Human Services is working with Vibrant to make this happen, but new eligibility rules may exclude The Trevor Project, a key provider. When asked about this, HHS did not give a clear answer, creating uncertainty about who will deliver these vital services. This lack of clarity raises concerns about whether the relaunch will truly meet the needs of LGBTQ+ youth.