988 removes LGBTQ+ services, straining Texas crisis centers

The Trump administration’s decision to remove specialized LGBTQ+ services from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is straining crisis centers in Texas, which are already operating at a $7 million funding deficit. The “Press 3 option” that connected callers to trained counselors with lived LGBTQ+ experience was eliminated in 2025, the administration said, because the specialized subnetwork exceeded its initial $33 million pilot budget.

The removal disproportionately affects LGBTQ+ youth, who have higher suicide risk than the general population. Crisis centers must now absorb an estimated 1.3 million annual contacts previously handled by the specialized network, without additional resources.

The Trump administration’s decision to eliminate specialized LGBTQ+ services from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is straining crisis centers across Texas, which are already operating at a $7 million funding deficit. The “Press 3 option,” which connected callers to trained counselors with lived LGBTQ+ experience, was removed in 2025. The administration said the specialized subnetwork exceeded its initial $33 million pilot budget.

The removal leaves a significant gap for a vulnerable population. The specialized network had fielded nearly 1.3 million contacts from LGBTQ+ people since the 988 Lifeline launched in 2022. LGBTQ+ youth are more than four times as likely to attempt suicide as their peers, according to mental health data cited by advocates.

Crisis centers face surging demand

Call volume to the Texas 988 system has climbed steadily over the past three years: 25,511 calls in December 2025, compared with 18,916 calls in December 2024 and 14,961 in December 2023. Crisis centers that operate or partner with 988 are now expected to absorb calls previously handled by counselors with specialized LGBTQ+ training, without additional funding or resources.

“When access narrows for those at highest risk, the system becomes less protective overall,” said Julia Hewitt, a suicide prevention leader with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and a parent of an LGBTQ child raised in Texas. “It was a punch to the gut because if you work or volunteer in this space, you know the families who are impacted by this.”

The 988 Lifeline itself was created through bipartisan legislation signed by President Trump during his first term. The nationwide network offers round-the-clock support for mental health, suicide, and substance-use problems.

What advocates lost with specialized services

For many LGBTQ+ youth, the specialized option provided something generic crisis counseling cannot: trained specialists with lived LGBTQ+ experience who could relate to callers and help them navigate issues like bullying, relationship troubles, and suicidal thoughts.

“The program was created with overwhelming bipartisan support because, despite our political differences, we should all agree that every young person’s life is worth saving,” said Jaymes Black, CEO of the Trevor Project, the organization that helped create the original specialized option. “I am heartbroken that this administration has decided to say, loudly and clearly, that they believe some young people’s lives are not worth saving.”

Specialized services for LGBTQ+ youth continue through organizations like the Trevor Project and the Trans Lifeline, but advocates say including them in 988 made access simple—callers needed only to remember three numbers. Now, LGBTQ+ youth reaching 988 are connected to counselors trained to handle crisis but who may lack the specialized skills to make someone feel safe during an emergency.

“While all callers can still reach trained counselors through 988, the loss of Option 3 eliminates a service designed to address the specific needs of a higher-risk population,” said Christine Busse, a peer policy fellow for the Texas branch of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Some states have moved to fill the gap. California engaged experts from the Trevor Project to train its 988 operators in LGBTQ+-specific crisis intervention. Texas lawmakers have not committed additional resources to similar training.

“LGBTQ+ young people need more resources to end suicide, not fewer,” said Mark Henson, vice president of advocacy and government affairs at The Trevor Project.

Funding crisis deepens uncertainty

The Texas 988 system receives $19 million annually from two federal grants: the Mental Health Block Grant and the 988 State and Territory Improvement Award. The latter is set to expire in September, with unclear prospects for renewal.

The funding instability echoes broader volatility in federal mental health support. Earlier this month, the Trump administration announced broad budget cuts affecting mental health and crisis services, then reversed the decision within hours after national backlash. The uncertainty is affecting both crisis centers and the staff answering calls.

“People got letters, and everyone was panicking, and then it got reversed,” Hewitt said. “A great outcome, but this terminal uncertainty is creating a really poor experience for not only the client but also the person answering the calls.”

Addressing the challenge will require sustained commitment to funding. Last year, Texas lawmakers created the 988 Trust Fund through House Bill 5342 and mandated a study on sustainable funding mechanisms, including a potential state telecommunications fee similar to the one supporting 911. To date, no state dollars have been appropriated to the trust.

“I’m concerned that if we don’t have any state funds, 988 is going to have to get reliant on philanthropy, fundraising, and other methods,” said José Menéndez, the state senator who authored the trust-fund legislation. “We have already started reaching out about how people can make contributions because this year some funds run out.”

Busse said the infrastructure to serve Texans exists but requires a political commitment to fund it sustainably.

“Without dedicated funding mechanisms, such as a telecommunications fee, Texans risk facing a mental health crisis without the community support network that took years to build,” Busse said.

For mental health support: The Trevor Project operates a 24/7 toll-free line at 866-488-7386. The Trans Lifeline is at 877-565-8860. The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline remains available at 988.