Senate Republicans are warning that Ken Cuccinelli , who was tapped Monday to serve as the acting head of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), will not be confirmed by the GOP-controlled Senate.

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Cuccinelli started his job atop the immigration agency Monday, a controversial move that came even after top Senate Republicans publicly warned that the former Senate Conservatives Fund leader would face a rocky reception on Capitol Hill.

Trump hasn't said if he will try to get Cuccinelli confirmed to the spot on a permanent basis. But Republican senators sent a warning shot on Monday, predicting that he likely cannot be confirmed in the GOP-controlled Senate, where a nomination has to lose four Republican senators to fall short of the simple majority required for nominations.

Asked about putting Cuccinelli in the spot in an "acting" capacity, Thune added that it's "probably the only way they could get him in there" and that it would be "hard" for the administration to get the former Virginia attorney general in the role permanently.

“He’s made a career of attacking other Republicans and frankly attacking, so I doubt he’ll have the support to get confirmed,” Cornyn said.