John McCain plans to take on Secret Service protection and will be meeting with agency officials next week, the GOP nominee-in-waiting told FOX News on Friday, a day after the director of Secret Service told Congress that McCain is the only major candidate to have declined the protection.

"I think that it's important as we get more and more visibility, that we recognize the inevitable," McCain told FOX News' Chris Wallace, in an interview to air on "FOX News Sunday." "And so we will be talking with them early to arrange for very soon, some Secret Service protection."

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama already have Secret Service details. McCain said Friday he's resisted to date because it "inhibits my ability to have close contact with people."

He said he'd meet early next week with agency officials to work out the protection and that he'd set it up "shortly thereafter," likely within the next few weeks.

Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan told a House Appropriations subcommittee Thursday that the Arizona senator has not yet requested his agency's services.

"Statutorily, he is not required to take protection," Sullivan said when asked about McCain's security during a hearing on the agency's budget. "As far as an actual request, we have not gotten one. We have no involvement at this point."

Clinton travels with Secret Service agents due to her status as a former first lady, and Obama requested and began receiving protection last year.

Federal law allows candidates to seek protection if they meet a series of standards, including public prominence as measured by polls and fundraising.

FOX News' Mosheh Oinounou and The Associated Press contributed to this report.