Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday that military leaders will do the right thing “no matter what” as questions swirl about the President-elect Donald Trump’s use of US troops.

Austin was asked about politicization of the military during the first Trump administration and whether he believed a second Trump term could do the same. Though he declined to speculate on what the next administration would do, Austin said he had confidence in the leadership of the military.

“I totally believe that our leaders will continue to do the right thing no matter what,” Austin said at a press gaggle in Miami. “I also believe that our Congress will continue to do the right things to support our military.”

More background: Trump considered invoking the Insurrection Act to deploy active-duty troops to quell protests in 2020. Ahead of Trump’s imminent return to the White House, Austin was asked about the possibility of the incoming commander-in-chief potentially issuing unlawful orders.

“The law is really well defined on what can be done and not be done using active-duty military,” Austin said. “Our leaders are well versed in those laws and we have the world’s greatest legal corps to assist us in making sure that we stay on track.”

In a message to the force sent one day after the election, Austin wrote the US military will “obey all lawful orders from its civilian chain of command.” The memo raised eyebrows for its apparent emphasis on “lawful orders.”

Austin also said it’s up to the president to choose his own military leaders, with speculation swirling that Trump could fire Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. CQ Brown, who has repeatedly come under right-wing attack.

/CNN