The White House is pushing to defund a vital lifeline for LGBTQ youth, proposing a 2026 budget that would eliminate specialized suicide prevention services from the national 988 hotline. Since its launch in 2022, over 1.3 million LGBTQ youth and young adults have used the service to seek mental health support in moments of crisis. But under the new plan, if you’re queer, questioning, or trans and in distress, you’re on your own.
The administration says it’s reallocating the money to general crisis services—translation: LGBTQ youth won’t get the tailored care they need. And the language being used? Officials claim they’re cutting off so-called “radical grooming contractors,” a dog-whistle phrase pulled straight from anti-LGBTQ playbooks. These “contractors” are, in reality, mental health professionals from respected organizations like The Trevor Project, whose CEO Jaymes Black called the move “the elimination of a national suicide prevention program” for LGBTQ youth.
Let’s be clear—this isn’t about budgeting. The proposed $520 million for the 988 system stays exactly the same. What’s gone is the life-saving option to talk to a counselor who actually gets what it means to be young and queer in America. Currently, LGBTQ youth can text “PRIDE” to 988 to speak with trained professionals. That lifeline will vanish under this proposal.
Trump’s War on Queer Lives Rolls On
This budget shift is just one of many anti-LGBTQ steps taken by the administration. From removing trans-inclusive language on government websites to renaming a Navy ship once honoring Harvey Milk, this Pride Month has been a gut punch. Executive orders banning trans military service, yanking funds from hospitals offering gender-affirming care, and blocking trans girls from sports teams are all part of the same regressive campaign.
The queer community knows what’s happening: this is an orchestrated rollback of human rights. These changes don’t just live on paper—they bleed into real lives, already at risk. According to existing legislation, LGBTQ youth are over four times more likely to seriously consider suicide. Removing specialized support doesn’t “protect children”; it abandons them.
“This isn’t about ideology—it’s about saving lives,” said Black. “Every young life is worth saving.”
There’s still time for Congress and the administration to walk back this damaging proposal. Until then, LGBTQ advocacy groups and mental health orgs are preparing to fight for the continuation of targeted services—because when the government steps back, the queer community always steps up.
In the meantime, queer youth in crisis will have to navigate a 988 hotline that no longer meets them where they are. The message from the White House is chillingly clear: if you’re LGBTQ, your pain is political—and expendable.