The Senate has ended the logjam over defense secretary nominee Chuck Hagel with a vote to confirm his nomination. On Tuesday, the Senate voted 58 to 41 in favor of Hagel’s bid, putting to rest a bipartisan dispute that stalled one of President Obama’s key Cabinet picks for weeks. Democratic Senator Carl Levin of Michigan said Hagel’s confirmation is long overdue.

Sen. Carl Levin: “The president needs a secretary of defense in whom he has trust, who will give him unvarnished advice, a person of integrity and one who has a personal understanding of the consequences of decisions relative to the use of military force. It is time to end the uncertainty relative to the leadership at the Pentagon.”

Four Republicans joined Democrats in backing Hagel after dropping their filibuster attempt earlier in the day. Hagel had drawn opposition for deviating from the hawkish bipartisan consensus on foreign policy issues such as Iran, Israel and the Iraq war. He is expected to be sworn in today, replacing outgoing Pentagon chief Leon Panetta.