U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi and others are pushing the administration to restore the “Press 3” option on the nation’s 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which previously provided specialized crisis services for LGBTQ+ youth.
Illinois officials said it’s time to put pressure on the Trump administration to restore a lifeline they say can save the lives of LGBTQ+ youth experiencing mental health crises.
Officials, including U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, are pushing the administration to restore the “Press 3” option on the nation’s 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which previously provided specialized crisis services for LGBTQ+ youth.
“These were people, perhaps on the worst days of their life, at the worst hour of their day, reaching out for someone in the darkness to help save their life,” Krishnamoorthi said at a news conference Thursday.
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-8th) speaks about the effort to restore 988 during a press conference at NAMI Chicago at 224 W Hill St in River North on Thursday.Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
The 988 Lifeline, including services for veterans and LGBTQ+ youth, was signed into law by President Donald Trump during his first term. But in July 2025, the administration ended the specialized services for LGBTQ+ youth, saying the hotline would no longer “silo” those services and would instead focus on “serving all help seekers.”
Krishnamoorthi said the service was canceled as part of the administration’s “anti-DEI efforts.” The administration, however, said the “Press 3” option had exhausted the funds allocated for 988 Lifeline LGBTQ+ subnetwork services.
The administration said Congress had allocated more than $33 million for the LGBTQ+ services in 2025, but the funding was fully spent by June.
But Illinois officials said LGBTQ+ youth face a higher risk of mental health crises and should have access to specialized crisis services that provide “affirming support.”