Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin praised female members of the armed forces, while his potential replacement, Pete Hegseth–who has said women have no place in combat–tries to shore up confirmation support among Republican senators.

Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News personality and Trump’s choice for defense secretary, was accused of sexual assault by a woman in 2017, according to a report by Vanity Fair. Vanity Fair’s story prompted a statement from the California city of Monterey, where the incident occurred along with a separate statement from Hegseth’s attorney.

Former Defense Secretary William Cohen underscored the importance of having women in the military, including in combat roles, as President-elect Trump’s pick for Defense secretary has come

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told West Point cadets the women he had witnessed in combat had been "incredibly" capable, competent and brave.