How Trump avoids confirmations: pick deputy assistants first, who don't need confirmation
and they then get to be acting head of an office that should have someone at 'assistant secretary' level who would go through the confirmation process. As spotted by n2doc in this thread: https://www.democraticunderground.com/10141753739#post6
From the ProPublica article:
On Wednesday, DeVos formally announced Jacksons position as deputy assistant secretary in the Office for Civil Rights, a role that does not require Senate confirmation. The 39-year-old attorney will act as assistant secretary in charge of the office until that position is filled. DeVos has not yet selected a nominee, who would have to receive Senate confirmation. As acting head, Jackson is in charge of about 550 full-time department staffers, who are responsible for investigating thousands of civil rights complaints each year.
https://www.propublica.org/article/devos-candice-jackson-civil-rights-office-education-department
(The main story there is about Candice Jackson:
"The new acting head of the U.S. Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights once complained that she experienced discrimination because she is white."