The Senate voted Tuesday to confirm Steven Dettelbach to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, meaning the top agency that enforces federal gun laws will have a permanent director for the first time in seven years.

The final vote was 48 to 46. Every Democrat present voted to confirm Dettelbach. Two Republicans joined them: Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Rob Portman of Ohio.

Dettelbachs confirmation is a major victory for President Joe Biden and for gun safety advocates, who have fought for years to put someone in charge permanently at ATF.

After years of obstruction by the gun lobby, the Senate has finally confirmed a permanent director to lead the ATF, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a statement. While certainly not a panacea to the gun violence epidemic plaguing our nation, having Mr. Dettelbach at the helm of the ATF will ensure the feds have all hands on deck in the fight to stop gun trafficking, prevent illegal possession of firearms, and make sure our kids cant get their hands on dangerous weapons.

The position of ATF director has long faced opposition from gun rights groups that dont want anyone confirmed to run the agency thats charged with regulating them. As a result, ATF has only had one Senate-confirmed director in 16 years.

Republicans didnt make it easy for Dettelbach. Last month, every single GOP member of the Senate Judiciary Committee voted against advancing his nomination out of the committee, leading to a tied vote. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) had to force Dettelbachs nomination out of the committee by taking an extra procedural step.