Advocates Warn Shuttering of 988’s “Press 3” Option Puts Lives at Risk
Targeted mental health support for LGBTQ youth is set to be eliminated on July 17, when the Trump administration shutters the “Press 3” option on the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. This decision, LGBTQ advocates say, will endanger young lives and dismantle a vital pathway to affirming care.
The federal government confirmed this week that the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will no longer provide a direct line to crisis counselors trained to support LGBTQ people under 25. Officials say the change is part of a plan to serve “all help seekers” under one umbrella — but critics note the erasure of the term “transgender” from official language and warn the move reflects a broader campaign against LGBTQ visibility in federal services.
Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project, said in a press statement, “We received official notice that the Trump administration has ordered the closure of The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services program, effective July 17, 2025. This means that, in 30 short days, this program that has provided life-saving services to more than 1.3 million LGBTQ+ young people will no longer be available for those who need it.”
The “Press 3” option was introduced in 2022 as a specialized offshoot of the national lifeline. Originally operated solely by The Trevor Project, the feature allowed LGBTQ youth in crisis to reach counselors with lived and clinical experience serving queer and trans communities. It has since grown into a nationwide subnetwork of seven centers, jointly supported by up to $50 million in federal funds.
The service has proven critical: in 2024, The Trevor Project alone responded to more than 231,000 crisis contacts via the 988 system and trained nearly 250 crisis professionals to provide culturally competent care.
Black added, “Congress can still act to reverse this fatal decision. We are asking everyone to join the overwhelming public support for evidence-based crisis services, and urge Congress to act. Learn more by visiting TheTrevorProject.org/ActNow.”
While officials insist LGBTQ callers can still use the general lifeline, mental health leaders warn the decision strips away a trusted, identity-affirming resource. They may discourage LGBTQ youth from seeking help at all, especially those navigating family rejection, discrimination, or suicidal ideation.
The change follows a string of federal rollbacks under Trump’s current term, including an executive order in January targeting transgender healthcare protections and banning gender-affirming language from federal agencies. Since then, the VA has removed LGBTQ-inclusive language from policy, and the administration has cut programs explicitly supporting marginalized groups.
The CEO pointed out that the timing of this move is particularly disturbing, “The fact that this news comes to us halfway through Pride Month is callous – as is the administration’s choice to remove the ‘T’ from the acronym ‘LGBTQ+’ in their announcement. Transgender people can never, and will never, be erased.”
Until the cutoff date, LGBTQ youth can continue to call or text 988 and select “Press 3” for specialized support.
