Trump Administration Fires 220 CWA Crisis Counselors

 
CWA Local 1180 members picket at Trump Tower to protest the firing of 220 CWA members and the defunding of the 988 LGBTQ+ crisis hotline.

More than 220 CWA members were laid off last week as a direct result of the Trump administration’s decision to defund the 988 “Press 3” LGBTQ+ youth crisis line that provides specialized services to vulnerable youth at high risk for suicide.

When LGBTQ+ young people in crisis call or text 988, they are connected to counselors who are trained to address their unique needs. Over the past three years, the 988 LGBTQ+ program has assisted over 1.3 million young people. Workers at the Trevor Project, represented by CWA Local 1180, handle nearly half of those contacts.

“As a collective, we are devastated by Trump cutting the LGBTQ+ youth line,” said Jack Hanson, a 988 Lifeline Crisis Counselor and member of CWA Local 1180. “This executive action serves as a death sentence to many in this demographic. Despite the line closure, we will always be dedicated to protecting this population.”

CWA members have been fighting back, demanding the restoration of funding for the crisis line. CWA Local 1180 picketed at Trump Tower last week and led a rally that united union activists and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

“As someone who’s been open about my own mental health struggles, I know firsthand what it means to feel like you’re out of options,” said Brita Filter, a popular drag performer and activist, in support of CWA Local 1180 members. “For LGBTQ+ youth—who are already four times more likely to attempt suicide—this lifeline is the option. Cutting it is not just a policy decision; it’s a death sentence. We should be expanding access to care, not ripping it away from the people who need it most.”

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This post originally appeared on cwa-union.org.