Federal Policy
HHS Restores LGBTQ 988 Crisis Line Services After Congressional Pressure
In a Policy Watch analysis, KFF examines SAMHSA's restoration of specialized 988 crisis line services for LGBTQ youth after the Trump Administration had eliminated the program in July 2025. Congress had originally directed SAMHSA to offer this tailored service from March 2023 through its discontinuation, despite rising utilization at the time it was cut. The piece reviews the policy reversal under congressional pressure and presents data on how LGBTQ youth used the specialized line. Open questions remain about the scope and durability of the restored service going forward.
Why it mattersState behavioral health systems and crisis response networks that rely on 988 as a federal backstop for at-risk youth face continued uncertainty over the scope and stability of specialized crisis services.