Volunteers help make up the difference after national parks service cuts

NPR | By Matt Ozug,

Jason Fuller

Published February 23, 2026 at 5:23 PM EST

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the busiest National park in the U.S., but with the park service cutting nearly a quarter of all positions last year, volunteers have made up the difference.

Matt Ozug

See stories by Matt Ozug

Jason Fuller

See stories by Jason Fuller

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