The Trump administration is excluding The Trevor Project from the 988 service it helped create

Earlier this month, the Trump administration announced plans to restore a specialized LGBTQ+ option for young people who use the national 988 crisis intervention hotline. But the organization that created and helped manage “Press 3,” The Trevor Project, may now be shut out of the revived service, ABC News reported Friday.“Press 3” was added to the intervention service in 2022 by The Trevor Project, which gave 988 callers the option to reach counselors specially trained to work with LGBTQ+ youth in crisis by entering the number 3. Users could also text “PRIDE” to access care or participate in online chats.During the three years the service was in operation, it fielded approximately 1.6 million contacts – about half of which were handled by The Trevor Project, according to data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Despite its enormous success in helping save young LGBTQ+ lives, the Trump administration suddenly eliminated "Press 3" from the 988 service in July of 2025, citing a lack of funding. The move drew much criticism from mental health experts, LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations, and lawmakers, who noted that specialized crisis intervention can be lifesaving for a population that faces disproportionately high rates of depression, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts.The move to restore the service by the end of this year follows Congress directing officials to allocate $33 million toward LGBTQ+-specific crisis interventions for young people. While that may seem like welcome news, it comes with legal and political complications and deep skepticism from LGBTQ+ advocates."We are grateful to see preliminary indication that the 988 Lifeline's LGBTQ+ youth specialized services may be reinstated after the program was abruptly shuttered last July,” said Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project, said in a statement when the announcement was made earlier this month. "However, we remain skeptical as the administration has now pla