In Washington, seven Democratic senators are urging Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to reverse a proposal cutting all funding to the 988 Lifeline's LGBTQ+ Youth Services — a program vital to queer youth in crisis. U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Edward Markey (D-MA), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) led their colleagues in slamming the Trump Administration's plan to take away lifesaving mental health services at the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline from LGBTQ+ youth, who face a higher risk of mental health challenges than their peers. Last week, reports surfaced that President Trump intends to slash 988's LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services program, which has received over 1.2 million crisis contacts since 2022, with a spike over the last several months.
"Given the Administration has claimed addressing youth mental health as a priority, elimination of specialized services specifically designed for at-risk youth is irresponsible," wrote the Senators in a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. "We urge you to reconsider and support continued funding for the program."
The senators cite alarming data: 40% of LGBTQ+ youth seriously considered suicide last year. Congress boosted the program's funding to $33 million, but a leaked HHS budget draft would eliminate it entirely by October.
The Trevor Project warns the cut could be deadly, calling it a dangerous rollback during a mental health crisis.
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