What we know about claims RFK Jr. intends to defund LGBTQ+ youth suicide prevention hotline

In mid-April 2025, claims circulated online that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., proposed the elimination of the 988 Suicide Prevention and Crisis Lifeline's Specialized Services for LGBTQ+ Youth.

Users across social media platforms such as X (archived), TikTok (archived) and Reddit shared their concern over the claim, citing the negative effects it could have on a marginalized group that has been persistently targeted by the Trump administration. Snopes readers also reached out via email and social media to ask about the truth behind the claim.

Link to tweet

The line item allegedly appeared in a 64-page "preliminary budget document" (archived) dated April 10, 2025, that "offers the first full look at the health and social service priorities of President Donald Trump's Office of Management and Budget as it prepares to send his 2026 fiscal year budget request to Congress," according to https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/04/16/hhs-budget-cut-trump/" target="_blank">The Washington Post. Though the document appears to be authentic, Snopes has yet to confirm its veracity independently.

Following up on The Washington Post's broad-level reporting, Mother Jones published an article linking to the document and pulled out the line item in question.

https://www.snopes.com/news/2025/04/25/rfk-jr-lgbtq-suicide-hotline/