U.S. officials say Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy has approved bringing in 21,000 National Guard members to Washington, D.C., to assist with security surrounding the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden.

Army officials have been grappling with requests for assistance from a number of law enforcement agencies who will be providing security across the city and surrounding the U.S. Capitol. Officials said Thursday that in the ongoing discussions with law enforcement, it has been determined that 21,000 Guard members should be enough. Others said requests for assistance at one point totaled as many as 26,000, but officials said those were not formal, official requests.

Officials had initially said up to 15,000 would be needed, but law enforcement had asked for more help locking down the Capitol and the city. Officials also said that the total still may grow.

The U.S. officials weren’t authorized to discuss security details publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

As of Thursday, there are roughly 7,000 Guard members in Washington, with thousands more on the way.

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear Friday announced heightened security measures around the Kentucky State Capitol grounds in Frankfort -- including a full closure scheduled for Sunday -- in the wake of the Jan. 6 deadly assault on the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

"There have been domestic terror threats against state capitols all over the United States," Beshear said in a news release. "Our commitment is that what happened at the U.S. Capitol will not happen here."

The release indicated that the Kentucky National Guard will assist with providing increased security over the "next several days," a move Kentucky State Police's acting commissioner, Lt. Col. Phillip Burnett Jr. said was necessary.

"KSP has not received any requests or notifications of a rally," Burnett said in the release. "However, precautions have been put in place to ensure the safety of both the public and state buildings, and will be adjusted as needed."

Beshear's announcement came on the heels of a similar decision by Gov. Mike DeWine in Ohio, where he has activated more than 1,000 National Guard soldiers and ordered the statehouse in Columbus closed from Sunday through Wednesday.

Officials said they expect at least one protest near the Ohio Capitol on Sunday.

On Jan. 6, while Congress worked to certify Joe Biden's election as president, a large crowd of people attending a rally hosted by the outgoing incumbent, President Donald J. Trump, marched to Capitol Hill and violently forced their way into the congressional hall in an apparent attempt to stop the certification. Five people died as a direct result of the assault, Capitol authorities reported.

Earlier this week, FBI agents warned of the potential for armed protests outside all 50 state capitols and at the U.S. Capitol in the days leading up to Biden's Jan. 20 inauguration.

Video above: State Capitols step up security amid threats

U.S. defense officials say they are worried about an insider attack or other threat from service members involved in securing President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration, prompting the FBI to vet all of the 25,000 National Guard troops coming into Washington for the event.

The massive undertaking reflects the extraordinary security concerns that have gripped Washington following the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol by pro-Trump rioters. And it underscores fears that some of the very people assigned to protect the city over the next several days could present a threat to the incoming president and other VIPs in attendance.

Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy told The Associated Press on Sunday that officials are conscious of the potential threat, and he warned commanders to be on the lookout for any problems within their ranks as the inauguration approaches. So far, however, he and other leaders say they have seen no evidence of any threats, and officials said the vetting hadn't flagged any issues that they were aware of.

”We’re continually going through the process, and taking second, third looks at every one of the individuals assigned to this operation,” McCarthy said in an interview after he and other military leaders went through an exhaustive, three-hour security drill in preparation for Wednesday’s inauguration. He said Guard members are also getting training on how to identify potential insider threats.

About 25,000 members of the National Guard are streaming into Washington from across the country — at least two and a half times the number for previous inaugurals. And while the military routinely reviews service members for extremist connections, the FBI screening is in addition to any previous monitoring.

Multiple officials said the process began as the first Guard troops began deploying to D.C. more than a week ago. And they said it is slated to be complete by Wednesday. Several officials discussed military planning on condition of anonymity.

“The question is, is that all of them? Are there others?” said McCarthy. “We need to be conscious of it and we need to put all of the mechanisms in place to thoroughly vet these men and women who would support any operations like this.”

In a situation like this one, FBI vetting would involve running peoples’ names through databases and watchlists maintained by the bureau to see if anything alarming comes up. That could include involvement in prior investigations or terrorism-related concerns, said David Gomez, a former FBI national security supervisor in Seattle.

Insider threats have been a persistent law enforcement priority in the years after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. But in most cases, the threats are from homegrown insurgents radicalized by al-Qaida, the Islamic State group or similar groups. In contrast, the threats against Biden’s inauguration have been fueled by supporters of President Donald Trump, far-right militants, white supremacists and other radical groups. Many believe Trump’s baseless accusations that the election was stolen from him, a claim that has been refuted by many courts, the Justice Department and Republican officials in key battleground states.

The insurrection at the Capitol began after Trump made incendiary remarks at the Jan. 6 rally. According to McCarthy, service members from across the military were at that rally, but it’s not clear how many were there or who may have participated in the breach at the Capitol. So far only a couple of current active-duty or National Guard members have been arrested in connection with the Capitol assault, which left five people dead. The dead included a Capitol Police officer and a woman shot by police as she climbed through a window in a door near the House chamber.

Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, has been meeting with Guard troops as they arrive in D.C. and as they gather downtown. He said he believes there are good processes in place to identify any potential threats.

“If there’s any indication that any of our soldiers or airmen are expressing things that are extremist views, it’s either handed over to law enforcement or dealt with the chain of command immediately,” he said.

The insider threat, however, was just one of the security concerns voiced by officials on Sunday, as dozens of military, National Guard, law enforcement and Washington, D.C., officials and commanders went through a security rehearsal in northern Virginia. As many as three dozen leaders lined tables that ringed a massive color-coded map of D.C. reflected onto the floor. Behind them were dozens more National Guard officers and staff, with their eyes trained on additional maps and charts displayed on the wall.

The Secret Service is in charge of event security, but there is a wide variety of military and law enforcement personnel involved, ranging from the National Guard and the FBI to Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department, U.S. Capitol Police and U.S. Park Police.

Commanders went over every aspect of the city’s complicated security lockdown, with McCarthy and others peppering them with questions about how the troops will respond in any scenario and how well they can communicate with the other enforcement agencies scattered around the city.

Hokanson said he believes his troops have been adequately equipped and prepared, and that they are rehearsing as much as they can to be prepared for any contingency.

The major security concern is an attack by armed groups of individuals, as well as planted explosives and other devices. McCarthy said intelligence reports suggest that groups are organizing armed rallies leading up to Inauguration Day, and possibly after that.

The bulk of the Guard members will be armed. And McCarthy said units are going through repeated drills to practice when and how to use force and how to work quickly with law enforcement partners. Law enforcement officers would make any arrests.

He said Guard units are going through “constant mental repetitions of looking at the map and talking through scenarios with leaders so they understand their task and purpose, they know their routes, they know where they’re friendly, adjacent units are, they have the appropriate frequencies to communicate with their law enforcement partners.”

The key goal, he said, is for America’s transfer of power to happen without incident.

“This is a national priority. We have to be successful as an institution,” said McCarthy. “We want to send the message to everyone in the United States and for the rest of the world that we can do this safely and peacefully.”

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Associated Press writer Eric Tucker contributed to this report.

First lady Jill Biden made an unscheduled stop at the US Capitol on Friday to thank members of the National Guard who have been guarding the complex in the weeks since the Capitol riot on January 6.

Up to 25,000 members of the National Guard were activated to guard the Capitol for President Joe Biden’s inauguration. In the days since, a number of Guard members remain on hand.

According to the National Guard, 10,600 Guard members remained stationed at the US Capitol as of Thursday evening. Nearly 7,000 members were expected to remain guarding the Capitol through the end of the month.

The first lady delivered a basket containing cookies to some of the National Guard members. When she exited the motorcade, she spoke with some commanding officers and addressed several dozen service members who stood at attention.

Biden then thanked them for protecting her family.

“The National Guard will always hold a special place in the hearts of all the Bidens,” the first lady said, referring to her step-son Beau Biden who was a member of the Delaware Army National Guard.

Biden made the stop at the Capitol one day after members of the Guard were briefly told they had to take their resting breaks in a parking garage, prompting bipartisan outage from some members of Congress. They have since been allowed to take their resting breaks inside of the Capitol.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — About 250 Indiana National Guard soldiers are expected to remain in Washington for about two more months after being sent there to help with security for President Joe Biden’s inauguration, officials said Tuesday.

Gov. Eric Holcomb authorized Indiana soldiers going to Washington on Jan. 13 as more than 25,000 troops from across the country were dispatched there following the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

More than 400 of the Indiana soldiers arrived back Monday night at the Guard’s Camp Atterbury after assisting with crowd and traffic control at the National Mall and near the White House, the Indiana Guard said. The soldiers remaining in Washington are scheduled to stay there until the end of March.

The Indiana soldiers were dispatched as Holcomb ordered the Statehouse complex closed to the public for several days and legislative leaders canceled a week of meetings over police concerns about possible armed protests. No protests occurred surrounding Biden’s inauguration in Indianapolis.

Gov. Kate Brown is activating the Oregon National Guard to assist hospitals as the state deals with a surge of COVID-19 patients.

“Beginning August 20, an initial 500 Guard members will be deployed to hospitals around the state to provide logistical support as materials handlers and equipment runners, as well as assisting with COVID-19 testing and other necessary services to support hospital operations,” Brown said in a statement.

Brown said that 733 Oregonians are hospitalized with severe cases of COVID-19. She added that 185 are in intensive-care units.

Much like the rest of the country, Oregon has experienced a surge due to the delta variant.

“I cannot emphasize enough the seriousness of this crisis for all Oregonians, especially those needing emergency and intensive care. When our hospitals are full with COVID-19 patients, there may not be room for someone needing care after a car crash, a heart attack, or other emergency situation,” Brown stated.

In an attempt to slow the spread of the virus, Oregon once again implemented a mask mandate, regardless of vaccination status.

Members of the Kentucky National Guard will remain in the nation's Capitol through May.

Kentucky officials announced Monday that of the guardsmen who were deployed to Washington, D.C., 70 have had their mission extended.

Another 80 guardsmen are returning home.

Officials said the National Guard troops have been helping local law enforcement secure the U.S. Capitol in the weeks after the deadly January insurrection. The remaining troops will now be in D.C. until at least May 23.

The Kentucky guardsmen are part of the 2,300 National Guard troops from around the country who were sent to Washington, D.C. Officials said Monday that the goal of the remaining troops is to incrementally reduce the National Guard footprint as conditions allow.

Officials said the Kentucky guardsmen returning home come from the 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade based out of Richmond and the 123rd Airlift Wing out of Louisville.

The FBI has already released about 250 photos of people being sought for assaulting federal law enforcement officers during the riot. Some have already been arrested, and the Justice Department said about 300 people have been charged with federal offenses related to the riot.

Nearly five months after being deployed to the U.S. Capitol to help quell the Jan. 6 insurrection, National Guard troops were set to leave and turn over security of the area to Capitol Police.

Guard troops, their mission ending Sunday, were expected to be leaving on Monday, a person familiar with the plan told The Associated Press. The person was not authorized to discuss the plan by name and requested anonymity.

The Pentagon announced earlier in the week that an extension of the Guard presence — 2,149 troops — had not been requested.

The planned departure came as Democrats and Republicans sparred over how to fund fortifications of the Capitol and whether to form an independent bipartisan commission to investigate the attack that sought to overturn former President Donald Trump’s loss to Democrat Joe Biden.

Related video: McCarthy pressed on fight over Jan. 6 commission

Some Republican lawmakers have begun downplaying the event despite the handful of deaths, injuries to scores of police officers, hundreds of arrests, damages to the building and shouted threats against lawmakers from many of those who stormed the building. Much of the violence was caught on camera.

Retired Lt. Gen. Russel Honore, who oversaw a security review in the wake of the rioting, told CBS on Sunday that the Capitol itself will be secured by Capitol Police but that the complex will remain closed to the general public because of the strain on the police force.

“God bless the National Guard,” Honore said. “They've done significant work.”

The House on Thursday approved — by a single vote largely along party lines — a $1.9 billion measure to fortify the Capitol. The next day the House approved with 35 Republican votes the formation of an investigative commission. Both measures face an uncertain future in the evenly divided Senate.

Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has said he opposes the commission proposal, which would need significant Republican support to advance under Senate rules. Republican opponents say the commission would become a political tool as midterms elections approach, though the proposal requires its work to be concluded by the end of this year.