For Julia Hewitt, the recent removal of LGBTQ+ services from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, along with the looming threat of funding cuts, resonates on both a personal and professional level. As a suicide prevention advocate with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, a lived experience adviser with Vibrant Emotional Health overseeing the crisis line in Texas, and a parent of an LGBTQ child, Hewitt has dedicated years to ensuring reliable crisis services are accessible to all. Her commitment is deeply rooted in her childhood experiences, having watched her mother battle suicidal thoughts.
Now, she finds herself witnessing the very foundation she helped build begin to deteriorate. “It felt like a punch to the gut,” Hewitt expressed. “For those of us working or volunteering in this field, we know the families affected by these changes. It becomes difficult to reconcile when you understand the immense good these services provide. When access is restricted for those at the highest risk, the overall protection of the system diminishes.”
The 988 Lifeline was established through bipartisan legislation signed by President Donald Trump during his first term. This nationwide network of local crisis centers is designed to provide 24/7 one-on-one support for mental health, suicide, and substance use issues.
Previously, callers to 988 were greeted with a menu that provided options for specialized counselors for various groups including veterans, Spanish speakers, and LGBTQ+ youth. However, last summer, the Trump administration announced a shift in policy, stating that LGBTQ+ youth services would no longer be a distinct option within the lifeline. The administration cited rising costs as the reason for this change, opting instead to unify services for all callers.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which funds the majority of the 988 Lifeline, noted that the initial budget of $33 million for the LGBTQ subnetwork had been exceeded. Following this decision, only veterans and Spanish-speaking individuals retained specialized options through the 988 call line.
Since its launch in 2022, the 988 Lifeline has received nearly 1.3 million contacts from LGBTQ+ individuals nationwide, creating a significant gap that Texas crisis care centers, already facing a $7 million funding deficit, are expected to fill. In Texas, the number of calls to the 988 system has steadily increased over the years, with December 2025 recording 25,511 calls, up from 18,916 the previous year, and 14,961 in December 2023. However, data on how many of these calls were redirected to LGBTQ+ subnetworks remains unavailable from Texas Health and Human Services officials.
Experts note that both veterans and LGBTQ+ youth face a higher risk of suicide compared to the general population, prompting concerns about the implications of eliminating specialized services for this vulnerable group. “This program was initiated with overwhelming bipartisan support, as we should universally agree that every young person’s life is valuable,” stated Jaymes Black, CEO of the Trevor Project, which played a key role in developing the previous option 3. “It is heartbreaking that this administration has explicitly signaled that they do not believe some young lives are worth saving.”
This situation unfolds amid a backdrop of expiring federal funding for the hotline, coupled with budget freezes and cuts that threaten the local crisis centers that underpin the 988 infrastructure. “Texas’s 988 system is currently facing a confluence of challenges,” remarked Christine Busse, a peer policy fellow with the Texas chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. “Without further investment, meeting current demand—or accommodating the influx of contacts previously managed by specialized services—will be exceedingly difficult.”
For many LGBTQ+ youth, the hotline represented a sanctuary where they could express themselves freely and seek support from specialists attuned to their unique challenges, such as substance abuse, bullying, relationship issues, and suicidal thoughts. Busse noted that the hotline previously managed up to 70,000 contacts per month nationwide, and the sudden removal of these services raises significant concerns, especially given that LGBTQ+ youth are over four times more likely to attempt suicide than their peers.
While the Trevor Project and other organizations continue to provide specialized services, advocates emphasize that inclusion in the 988 framework significantly simplified access for those in crisis. With the recent changes, LGBTQ+ youth now face dispatchers trained to manage crises but lacking the specialized experience necessary to create a supportive environment.
<p“While all callers can still reach trained counselors through 988, the elimination of Option 3 strips away a service tailored to the specific needs of a higher-risk population,” Busse added.
Some states, such as California, have taken steps to address this gap by training operators with expertise from the Trevor Project. However, Texas lawmakers have yet to allocate additional resources for similar initiatives. “LGBTQ+ young people require more resources to combat suicide, not fewer,” asserted Mark Henson, vice president of advocacy and government affairs at the Trevor Project.
Hewitt expressed hope that local operators would eventually receive the necessary specialized training to provide adequate care, but she questioned why such training is necessary at all. “A comprehensive network was established specifically for this purpose, and that’s the distinction,” she stated. “This shift necessitates additional training, which translates to increased demands on time, experience, personnel, and resources.”
Busse noted that the removal of Option 3 has resulted in an increased workload for crisis centers already stretched thin. The data on the crisis hotline reveals a consistent rise in calls, further exacerbating the strain on Texas’s 988 system, which was already under pressure prior to the elimination of the LGBTQ+ subnetworks.
Currently, the Texas 988 system operates on $19 million in funding 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, leaving uncertainty over whether Congress will renew it or if the Trump administration will create new funding avenues. This comes at a time when local crisis care centers—integral to the 988 call centers—are experiencing fluctuations in investment dictated by federal decisions.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration announced sweeping budget cuts that many healthcare advocates warned would devastate mental health services nationwide. Following widespread backlash, the administration quickly reversed the decision, but the chaos left mental health providers and clients in a state of anxiety. “People received letters, and there was widespread panic, then it was all reversed,” Hewitt recounted. “While the outcome was positive, this ongoing uncertainty creates a poor experience for both clients and those responding to calls.”
The 988 system was never intended to be perpetually funded by the federal government. In response, Texas lawmakers, including State Senator José Menéndez, have sought to establish a safety net. Last year, they created the 988 Trust Fund through House Bill 5342 and mandated a study on sustainable funding strategies, including a potential state telecommunications fee, due by December. Yet, no state funds have been allocated to the trust so far.
Menéndez expressed concern that without state support, the 988 system may increasingly rely on philanthropy and fundraising initiatives. “If we lack state funding, 988 may have to depend on donations, and we are already exploring ways to encourage contributions as some funds are set to expire,” he noted.
As federal funding continues to decline and state commitment appears lacking, the sustainability of the 988 system in Texas may hinge on community support through donations. “This uncertainty underscores the urgent need for legislative action,” Busse remarked. “The infrastructure exists; what is required now is a commitment to fund it. 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 establish.”
For mental health support for LGBTQ youth, reach out to the Trevor Project’s 24/7 toll-free support line at 866-488-7386. For trans peer support, contact the Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860. You can also connect with a trained crisis counselor through the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.
