Trump administration moves to restore LGBTQ+ crisis line it eliminated, but must reject trans identities
US president and Republican leader Donald Trump. (Image: Getty)
The Trump administration says it is working to restore the 988 Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ youth “Press 3” option by the end of 2026, but says the service must comply with an executive order that rejects federal recognition of trans identities.
An HHS spokesperson said SAMHSA is “working with the 988 Network Administrator Vibrant Emotional Health to reactivate Press 3 operations by the end of the year”, describing the effort as part of Congress’s fiscal year 2026 directive to restore the specialised services.
In a 9 June 2026 letter to lawmakers sent on behalf of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, SAMHSA said it is evaluating how to reinstate the LGBTQ+ youth specialised service. Christopher Carroll, SAMHSA’s principal deputy assistant secretary for mental health and substance use, wrote: “SAMHSA is currently assessing the most appropriate approach to implementing this congressional directive for the ‘Press 3’ option within the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, while ensuring compliance with Executive Order 14168,” referring to the order requiring federal agencies to recognise only two sexes.
The Trevor Project, which piloted the programme, said the specialised services helped more than 1.5 million LGBTQ+ young people before they were shut down. CEO Jaymes Black said: “We are grateful to see preliminary indication that the 988 Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ youth specialised services may be reinstated after the program was abruptly shuttered last July,” adding: “However, we remain sceptical as the administration has now plainly said the lifeline must ensure compliance with President Trump’s January 2025 anti-transgender executive order.”
Why ‘Press 3’ was shut down
The LGBTQ+ youth specialised services launched nationally in 2022 after Congress authorised LGBTQ+ youth support within the 988 system. In June 2025, SAMHSA announced it would eliminate the specialised services, arguing it would “no longer silo” LGBTQ+ callers, while proposing to eliminate the programme’s dedicated $33.1 million funding stream. The shutdown took effect on 17 July 2025, ending the “Press 3” option and other pathways, as set out when the administration announced plans to shut down the service.
Fears over trans inclusion
Black said: “The point of the 988 Lifeline’s specialised services is to provide tailored support to groups placed at highest risk for suicide in this country, including veterans and LGBTQ+ young people,” adding: “The administration’s executive order rejects these youth entirely; they cannot be supported if they are not included.”
The Trevor Project has cited survey data showing 36% of LGBTQ+ young people and 40% of transgender and nonbinary young people seriously considered suicide in the past year, and approximately 11% reported attempting suicide.
