Neither Birx nor Fauci hold positions requiring Senate approval.
What appointments he needs is his call. He has the power to create new positions and new cabinet officers. But he needs the Senate to confirm appointments.
He has the authority to create new positions in the Executive Office of the President, and doesn't need the Senate to confirm those. New cabinet positions requiring a new budget need to first be authorized by Congress before someone can be appointed to the position.
McConnell is holding back because Obama tried to recess appoint a SCOTUS Justice for Scalia, Merrick Garland.
No he didn't McConnell had kept the Senate in pro-forma session for years before Scalia died just to deny Obama recess appointments. The Democrats are doing the same to Trump.
> “Neither Birx nor Fauci hold positions requiring Senate approval.”
Irrelevant. POTUS may need new positions with appointments where these two are required to report to.
Thanks for the added info on pro forma sessions before Scalia.