A recently leaked draft budget from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has sent shockwaves through the LGBTQ+ community and its allies, revealing plans to eliminate specialized crisis counseling services for LGBTQ+ youth available through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. First reported by the Washington Post and highlighted by Mother Jones, these proposed cuts, if approved by Congress, would take effect in October 2025, potentially severing a critical support system for a uniquely vulnerable population.
Since its nationwide launch in 2022, the 988 Lifeline has offered callers the option to connect with counselors specifically trained to support distinct groups, including young people identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ+). This specialized service acknowledges the specific challenges and elevated risks faced by these individuals, who are statistically four times more likely to attempt suicide compared to their heterosexual and cisgender peers.
The significance of this targeted support cannot be overstated. The LGBTQ+ youth subnetwork within 988 has handled an immense volume of contacts: 1.3 million calls, texts, and chats since its inception. In February 2025 alone, the service averaged approximately 2,100 contacts per day, demonstrating a profound and ongoing need.
Mental health experts emphasize that the counselors providing these specialized services offer essential cultural competency. They understand the intense stress induced by the current political climate targeting LGBTQ+ rights, the critical importance of using correct names and pronouns, and the painful realities of family rejection and harassment that many LGBTQ+ youth endure. This understanding fosters a safe, affirming space during moments of acute crisis.
The potential removal of this service has drawn sharp criticism. Paolo del Vecchio, former director of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s (SAMHSA) Office of Recovery, lamented the move, stating, “Here we are cutting off the nation’s lifeline to those in crisis… they’re pulling that life preserver away from thousands and thousands of people.”
Janson Wu, director of advocacy and government affairs at The Trevor Project, a leading LGBTQ+ suicide prevention organization and a key partner in the 988 subnetwork, expressed deep concern. “I worry deeply that we will see more LGBTQ young people reach a crisis state and not have anyone there to help them through that,” Wu stated. “I worry that LGBTQ young people will reach out to 988 and not receive a compassionate and welcoming voice on the other end—and that will only deepen their crisis.” The Trevor Project currently handles about half of the 988 contacts from LGBTQ+ youth, operating within a subnetwork that received an estimated $50 million in federal funding this year.
These proposed cuts to the 988 lifeline are part of a broader pattern of budget reductions and restructuring within HHS under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Trump administration. This includes the elimination of SAMHSA itself, consolidating mental health initiatives, and significant proposed cuts to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Head Start, and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). These actions occur alongside executive orders and policies restricting gender-affirming care access and targeting transgender individuals.
While the budget draft requires Congressional approval to become final, the proposal itself represents a significant threat to the well-being of LGBTQ+ youth across the nation. For the transgender community, their families, and allies, this development underscores the ongoing fight for access to essential, life-affirming healthcare and support services. Transvitae.com will continue to monitor this situation closely.
