It has been quite the tumultuous year in the security clearance realm: the record number of investigations backlog, clearance reform efforts, and the impending transfer of responsibility for investigations from the National Background Investigations Bureau (NBIB) back to the Department of Defense (DoD). As of December 7, 2018 the Defense Office of Hearing and Appeals (DOHA) Board heard 1,844 initial DoD clearance denial appeals.
This does not reflect the number of denials and appeals from the various Intelligence Community agencies. Their denial and appeal rates are much higher since most applicants are investigated at the TS/SCI level.