The US Senate confirmed billionaire heiress Betsy DeVos as the next secretary of education Tuesday, after Vice President Mike Pence was forced to break a tie on the deeply controversial nomination.

The chamber deadlocked at 50-50, with two Republican senators breaking ranks to oppose DeVos, a champion of using taxpayer monies to help fund privately run schools.

"The Senate being equally divided, the vice president votes in the affirmative, and the nomination is confirmed," Pence said.