Full Breakdown
LGBTQ+ “Press 3” Service Restored on the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
By Drooid · · How we work
Restoration of the Specialized Service
After more than 14 months without a dedicated option, the LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services—known as “Press 3”—on the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline resumed on Wednesday. The reinstatement follows a congressional directive that required the administration to restore the option, which had been eliminated by the Trump administration on July 17, 2025. While the service is back, The Trevor Project, which helped launch the program, was not reinstated as a participating provider.
Background and Prior Shutdown
The “Press 3” option began as a pilot in September 2022, connecting LGBTQ+ young people with counselors trained to address their specific needs via calls, texts, and online chats. The Trump administration ended the service on July 17, 2025, citing political priorities. By June 2025, the program handled nearly 70,000 contacts per month, according to the Government Accountability Office, and had accumulated roughly 1.6 million contacts since its inception, about half of which were managed by The Trevor Project.
Official Statements & Responses
Sen. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) emphasized that LGBTQ+ youth deserve counselors trained to understand and support them. An HHS spokesperson confirmed the service’s return per the congressional mandate and reiterated the department’s alignment with President Trump’s executive orders on “gender ideology extremism” and “biological truth,” without clarifying whether counselors must affirm transgender or nonbinary identities.
Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project, welcomed the restoration, stating, “We are grateful to see that the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s ‘Press 3’ specialized services for LGBTQ+ youth have been restored,” and affirmed that the organization’s own 24/7 crisis lines remain fully operational.
Data and Funding
Congress directed the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to allocate $33.1 million for the service’s restoration, covering fiscal year 2026 funding. The restored “Press 3” line now routes callers to qualified 988 providers, though the list of participating organizations has not been publicly disclosed.
The revival of “Press 3” restores a dedicated lifeline for LGBTQ+ youth, but questions remain about counselor training, identity affirmation policies, and the future role of The Trevor Project within the federal framework.