Trump ends specialized LGBTQ+ youth suicide hotline; California Governor Newsom vows state will fill the gap
The Trump administration has ordered an end to federal funding for the nation's only specialized suicide prevention hotline for
LGBTQ youth
, sparking outrage from advocates and setting up a new flashpoint with
California
Governor Gavin Newsom. The move, which will take effect July 17 and eliminates the 'Press 3' option on the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, prompted
Newsom
to swiftly promise that California will step in to protect and expand mental health support for
LGBTQ
youth. The move, according to Newsom, will ensure the state remains a safe haven for vulnerable young people.
Federal officials argue that the general 988 Lifeline, which will continue to receive $520 million in funding, is sufficient for all callers. A spokesperson for the White House Office of Management and Budget said, 'The president's Budget funds the 988 at $520 million - the same number as under Biden. It does not, however, 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.'
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Since taking office in January 2025, President Trump has signed multiple executive orders aimed at limiting
transgender rights
and rolling back diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in both government and the private sector.
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Advocates and mental health professionals have condemned the decision as dangerous and politically motivated. The
Trevor Project
, which has handled more than 1.3 million contacts from LGBTQ youth since the service launched in 2022, received a stop-work order this week. CEO Jaymes Black called the move 'devastating,' adding, 'Suicide prevention is about people, not politics. The administration's decision to remove a bipartisan, evidence-based service that has effectively supported a high-risk group of young people through their darkest moments is incomprehensible.'
Governor Newsom responded swiftly, denouncing the federal rollback as 'outrageous and inexcusable.' He announced that California will invest further in mental health services for LGBTQ youth, highlighting the state's $4.7 billion Master Plan for Kids' Mental Health and direct partnerships with organizations like The Trevor Project.
'While this federal administration slashes services and tries to erase LGBTQ people, California will do the opposite. Every child — straight, gay, transgender — belongs,' Newsom declared. The state operates 12 crisis centers for the 988 Lifeline and maintains additional digital support resources, ensuring that LGBTQ youth in California will continue to have access to specialized crisis counseling.
This latest policy clash follows a series of confrontations between Newsom and Trump, including over federal immigration enforcement and ICE raids. As the July 17 cutoff approaches, the fate of specialized suicide prevention services for LGBTQ youth hangs in the balance nationwide. In California, at least, state leaders are making clear they will not follow Washington's lead, and are prepared to invest heavily to ensure that vulnerable young people do not lose access to the support they need.
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