The United States Senate has confirmed John Brennan as the next director of the Central Intelligence Agency.
His confirmation vote was delayed by a filibuster by Senator Rand Paul which started at noon on Wednesday and lasted 13 hours.
Mr Brennan was President Obama's top counter-terrorism adviser and helped oversee the drone programme.
He was eventually confirmed on Thursday by a 63-34 vote.
Earlier, his nomination was approved by the Senate intelligence committee.
Senator Paul is a critic of the use of drones. He wanted a pledge from either President Barack Obama or Attorney General Eric Holder that drones would not be used in the United States to kill US citizens.
Mr Holder replied the president claimed no such power to order drone strikes on Americans on US soil.
