In a deeply controversial move, the Trump administration has announced it will stop funding a vital suicide prevention hotline dedicated to LGBTQ+ youth, prompting outrage from advocates and mental health experts across the country.
The hotline, operated by The Trevor Project—a nonprofit organization specializing in crisis support for LGBTQ+ individuals—is set to shut down in the coming weeks after the federal government refused to renew its funding. Since its launch in 2022, the lifeline has provided critical emotional support to over 1.3 million young people in the United States.
Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project, expressed deep sorrow over the development. “I am devastated and heartbroken. We’ve received official notice that the Trump administration has ordered the closure of the national LGBTQ+ youth suicide lifeline in 30 days,” Black said in a statement posted to Instagram.
The White House Office of Management and Budget defended the decision, claiming that the administration is continuing to support broader suicide prevention efforts through the 988 Lifeline—a general national crisis hotline. The administration allocated $520 million to the 988 service, matching funding levels under former President Joe Biden.
However, a White House spokesperson accused The Trevor Project’s chat-based support service of promoting “radical gender ideology” to minors without parental consent. “The president’s budget does not grant taxpayer money to a chat service where children are encouraged to embrace radical gender ideology by ‘counselors’ without consent or knowledge of their parents,” the spokesperson stated.
The decision aligns with a broader pattern under President Trump’s second term, which has seen a number of executive actions targeting transgender rights and diversity initiatives. While the administration argues these moves restore fairness and traditional values, critics argue they place marginalized communities—especially LGBTQ+ youth—at even greater risk.
Civil rights groups and mental health professionals have slammed the move as dangerous and politically motivated. “This administration is eliminating a critical, life-saving resource that was part of our nation’s public health infrastructure,” said Black. “It feels as though the country has turned its back on LGBTQ+ young people.”
Mental health experts stress that general crisis lines, while helpful, cannot fully replace the culturally competent and specialized support that services like The Trevor Project provide. LGBTQ+ youth are four times more likely to attempt suicide than their non-LGBTQ+ peers, according to data from multiple U.S. health studies.
The Trevor Project’s hotline closure is expected to leave a gaping hole in mental health support for vulnerable youth across the country. Many fear that without a safe and understanding space to turn to, suicide rates among LGBTQ+ youth could rise.
With the 30-day countdown already underway, advocates are urging the public to speak out, donate to The Trevor Project independently, and pressure lawmakers to intervene before it’s too late.
