Did Trump Cut the Suicide Hotline? What’s Happening With 988

When you’re in your darkest moment and in emotional distress, the last thing you should have to worry about is whether help will be there when you call. Yet recent changes to funding for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline have left many wondering if this life-saving resource will still be there when people need it most.

The short answer is yes, 988 is still active and available 24/7. However, the longer story involves budget cuts that affect how quickly you get help and what kind of support is available, especially for communities that already face higher needs and barriers to mental health care.

What Is the 988 Lifeline?

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline launched in 2022 as a game-changer for mental health support in the U.S. Instead of remembering a long phone number, anyone in crisis can simply dial 988 to reach trained counselors who provide immediate emotional support and connect people to local resources.

The lifeline is managed by SAMHSA (the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It serves everyone, but it has specialized services for groups at higher risk, including LGBTQIA+ youth and veterans.

Suicide remains a serious public health concern in the U.S., and we know from research that certain groups have a higher risk, including veterans and LGBTQ+ youth. This is why these groups have dedicated services within the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, where uniquely trained counselors help prevent suicide in these disproportionately impacted populations.

Robert GebbiaCEO of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

What’s Changed With Funding

In July 2025, the federal government stopped funding specialized services for LGBTQIA+ youth through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. As of July 17, the Lifeline’s “Press 3” option, (which routed calls to counselors trained specifically to support LGBTQ+ youth) was discontinued after federal funds for this subnetwork ran out.

The finalized fiscal year 2026 budget includes $520 million for the 988 Lifeline overall, but omits any earmarked funding for LGBTQIA+ services. As a result, all callers are now served by general crisis counselors, regardless of background or identity.

The news comes at a time when suicide rates among LGBTQIA+ youth are a clear concern: The Trevor Project estimates that more than 1.8 million LGBTQ+ young people (ages 13-24) seriously consider suicide each year in the U.S., and at least one person attempts suicide every 45 seconds.²

While the lifeline network itself remains operational, defunding specialized services affects the system’s ability to meet increasing demand. This doesn’t mean 988 is shutting down, but it does mean fewer resources for hiring staff in call centers, training specialized counselors, and expanding outreach programs.

Impact on the LGBTQIA+ Community

This change also significantly impacts organizations like The Trevor Project, which lost half of its federal funding for crisis response, threatening their ability to maintain trained staff and meet call volume demands.

The end of tailored support may increase wait times and reduce the quality of care for LGBTQIA+ youth, who previously made up as many as 70,000 calls to the specialized line each month.³ Additionally, general crisis centers may not have the cultural competency to respond effectively to the unique challenges LGBTQIA+ people face.

Despite the loss of federal support, independent hotlines like Trans Lifeline and The Trevor Project continue operating, though with more limited capacity. This shift underscores the importance of funding culturally responsive mental health services, especially for communities at higher risk of suicide, mental health concerns, and behavioral health crisis.

Who Is Disproportionately Impacted

Unfortunately, funding cuts rarely affect everyone equally. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, “Certain populations uniquely at risk continue to be underrepresented in suicide research and face disproportionate inequities in accessing the care, support, and services needed to improve mental health and prevent suicide.”⁴

The communities most likely to feel the impact include:

• BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities who already face barriers to accessing culturally competent mental health care
• LGBTQIA+ communities, especially youth, who have significantly higher rates of thoughts of suicide
• Rural residents who have limited access to mental health resources to begin with
• People without insurance who rely heavily on free crisis care services

How do recent cuts to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline affect access to care, especially in underserved or marginalized communities? What are the potential long-term implications?

The Suicide & Crisis Lifeline helps reduce suicide, mental health hospitalizations, and reduces healthcare costs overall because people are less likely to turn to higher levels of care that are more expensive. For marginalized communities, it provides access to someone who can listen and provide support as well as resources they may not have access to otherwise, which saves lives. The long-term implications of the recent cuts include staffing shortages, which lead to longer response times, diminishing the effectiveness of the Lifeline during crises.

Jack Bartel, PsyDThe Evergreen Initiative

What This Means for You

These funding reductions create staffing shortages, which lead to longer response times and reduce how effectively crisis helplines can offer support services during crises.

Here’s what you might experience:

• Longer wait times when calling for help
• Fewer culturally competent counselors available
• Reduced outreach programs in underserved communities, such as those that are community-based and offer peer support services.
• Less specialized support for high-risk groups

The broader concern is that without adequate mental health crisis support, more people may end up in emergency rooms or have increased encounters with law enforcement—exactly the kinds of situations 988 was designed to prevent.

Why This Matters Beyond Individual Calls

The 988 lifeline doesn’t just save lives in the moment. It reduces overall healthcare costs by preventing more expensive interventions like psychiatric hospitalizations. For marginalized communities especially, it provides access to support and wellness resources that might otherwise be unavailable.

Other Crisis Resources Still Available

While concerns about National Suicide Prevention Lifeline funding are serious, it’s important to know that other crisis support options are still available.

If you can’t get through to 988 or need specialized support, these resources can help:

• National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support 24/7. This service operates independently of 988 and connects you with trained crisis counselors via text message.
• The Trevor Project: Provides crisis support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth through phone (1-866-488-7386), text START to 678-678, and online chat. Available 24/7 with counselors trained in LGBTQ+ issues.
• Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online. This specialized service for veterans, service members, and their families has dedicated funding and staff.
• Crisis Text Line en Español: Envía el texto HOLA al 741741 para apoyo en crisis en español/Text HOLA to 741741 for crisis support in Spanish.

Many communities also have local crisis hotlines, mobile crisis teams, and walk-in crisis centers. Your local 211 service (dial 2-1-1) can help you find nearby mental health resources and crisis support options.

The Advocacy Response

Mental health advocates nationwide are actively responding to the funding cuts to the National Suicide Hotline. Leading organizations have issued press releases and public statements urging Congress and the White House to restore and expand funding, emphasizing that access to crisis services is a matter of life and death for vulnerable communities.

Advocates stress that mental health is a bipartisan issue. “Suicide prevention is about risk, not identity,” says Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project.⁵ But, Black also reminds affected communities that not all hope is lost:

I want to be clear to all LGBTQ+ young people: This news, while upsetting, is not final. And regardless of federal funding shifts, The Trevor Project remains available 24/7 for anyone who needs us, just as we always have.⁶

What You Can Do

If you’re concerned about these changes, here are ways to help:

• Contact your elected officials to express support for 988 funding
• Support nonprofit organizations working on mental health advocacy
• Share accurate information about available resources in your community
• Learn the warning signs of suicide and how to help someone in crisis

Moving Forward

988 remains available 24/7 for anyone in crisis, but some communities are disproportionately impacted when it comes to specialized services and response. The system’s long-term capacity depends on sustained and equitable investment from federal and state governments.

If you or someone you love is struggling, remember that help is still available. Aside from crisis support, you can also search for treatment centers that specialize in treating suicidal thoughts and behaviors for comprehensive care.

Make a safety plan, connect with support, and remember—your story isn’t over yet.