Hagel confirmed as US defence secretary US Senators have agreed to bring Chuck Hagel's nomination to head the Pentagon to a vote. THE US senate has finally confirmed Chuck Hagel to be secretary of defence, ending an acrimonious nominations process and boosting President Barack Obama as he fills his second-term cabinet. After Hagel's bruising confirmation hearing and a 10-day delay thrown up by Republicans, senators voted 58-41 to approve the former Republican senator and decorated Vietnam War veteran as outgoing Pentagon chief Leon Panetta's replacement. Hagel, 66, is likely to be sworn in on Wednesday. Four Republicans - surprisingly including Tea Party-backed Senator Rand Paul - joined the majority Democrats in approving Hagel, compared with the 18 Republicans who had voted earlier in the day to overcome the blocking tactics and allow a full vote. Obama welcomed the "bipartisan confirmation," saying it allowed him to "have the defence secretary our nation needs and the leader our troops deserve." I will be counting on Chuck's judgment and counsel as we end the war in Afghanistan, bring our troops home, stay ready to meet the threats of our time and keep our military the finest fighting force in the world. The nomination had been held up by several Republicans' demands for more information on Hagel's finances and transcripts of speeches that he gave to international organisations. But some of his strongest critics, including Republican Senators Bob Corker, Lindsey Graham and John McCain, agreed to allow an up-or-down floor vote after a one-week senate recess, even though all three eventually voted against Hagel's confirmation. The outcome ended a politically charged saga that featured Hagel becoming unsettled in congressional testimony when critics savaged his record on issues related to the Middle East. He also survived a tense committee vote in which he was subjected to such harsh comments that fellow Vietnam veteran McCain warned fellow Republicans that they should not impugn the patriotism of "an honourable man." Hagel himself said he was honoured by the senate confirmation, and suggested he was eager to put aside the bitter political battle on Capitol Hill. "I will work closely with congress to ensure that we maintain the strongest military in the world and continue to protect this great nation," he said in a statement. Senate majority leader Harry Reid sounded relieved at the outcome, but got in a few more digs at his opponents. "Senator Hagel is the first nominee for secretary of defence to be filibustered in the history of the United States," Reid said. "Politically motivated delays send a terrible signal to our allies and to the world," as well as to US troops serving in Afghanistan, Reid said. Democrats had argued the delay could harm US military readiness and credibility at a time of tension in the Middle East, concern over Iran's nuclear ambitions, and North Korea's recent atomic test. Compounding the problems facing Hagel is $US85 billion ($A83.51 billion) in across-the-board spending cuts set to begin on Friday, which could ravage many military programs and lead to temporary unpaid leave for the Defense Department's 800,000 civilian workers. Despite Hagel's impressive Vietnam War record, some Republicans insist his previous allegedly dovish position on Iran and supposedly lukewarm support for US-ally Israel disqualify him to be defence chief. Senator Dan Coats warned his country's implicit threat to take military action against Iran if it continues to seek nuclear weapons "will have virtually zero credibility if Senator Hagel becomes secretary of defence." Although Hagel had a mostly conservative record as a senator, his Republican colleagues have never forgiven him for his outspoken criticism of president George W. Bush's handling of the Iraq war. He called the administration's effort at the time "beyond pitiful" and when Bush planned a surge of additional troops in 2006, Hagel said it would be "the most dangerous foreign policy blunder in this country since Vietnam." Hagel's confirmation marks a double victory for Obama, whose pick for Treasury secretary, Jack Lew, passed the Senate Finance Committee despite some qualms about his reputation as a doctrinaire Democrat with ties to Wall Street. The committee voted 19 to 5 in favour of Lew, Obama's former chief of staff and a budget director for then-president Bill Clinton.