The Senate just scrapped a hotly debated plan to sell off vast chunks of public land that was tucked into a massive spending bill. Republican Senator Mike Lee, the driving force behind the proposal, confirmed its removal late Saturday, citing budget rules as the reason.

Editor’s Note: This is a win for conservationists and outdoor enthusiasts who argued selling public land would limit access to parks, forests, and other natural spaces. While budget technicalities played a role, the pushback from both sides of the aisle shows how contentious privatization of these lands can be—especially in Western states where public land is a big part of life.