Krishnamoorthi, Davids, Moulton Press HHS To Restore LGBTQ+ 988 Crisis Services Following Kennedy Commitment

WASHINGTON - Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Congresswoman Sharice Davids (D-KS), and Congressman Seth Moulton (D-MA) today sent a letter to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. pressing the Trump Administration to immediately restore the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline's LGBTQ+ specialized services, commonly accessed through the "Press 3" option.

The Members highlighted Secretary Kennedy's recent congressional testimony and warned that the services remain unavailable despite congressional direction and appropriated funding:

"During recent testimony before Congress, you stated that the Department is 'working on getting [the LGBTQ+ line] up now.' While that commitment is welcome, these services remain unavailable, leaving a critical gap in care for a population Congress has explicitly directed HHS to support."

The Members also pointed to new evidence showing the lifesaving impact of the 988 Lifeline, citing a recent Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) study finding that the program has been associated with thousands fewer youth suicide deaths nationwide, including an approximately 11 percent reduction among young people since its launch.

The letter further notes that LGBTQ+ youth remain at significantly elevated risk of suicide compared to their peers, underscoring the need for targeted, culturally competent crisis support.

The Members wrote:

"Taken together, these facts are straightforward: the 988 Lifeline is saving lives, Congress has directed that these services be maintained, and yet the specialized LGBTQ+ line remains offline."

The letter also highlights that Congress appropriated funding for these services and warned that allowing them to remain offline undermines congressional intent:

"Congress appropriated $33.1 million in Fiscal Year 2026 to sustain these specialized services. Allowing them to remain offline not only undermines Congressional intent but fails to execute on a clear directive to provide targeted, evidence-based support for high-risk populations."

The Members requested responses to the following questions by May 21, 2026:

1. What is the timeline for fully restoring the 988 "Press 3" LGBTQ+ specialized services nationwide?

2. What steps has HHS taken to implement Congress's directive and deploy appropriated funding?

3. What barriers, if any, are delaying restoration, and what actions is the Department taking to resolve them?

4. How will HHS ensure these services remain fully operational and accessible once restored?

The letter is available here.