Can someone lose security clearances or their job for an office affair?

[fraggler]

What is the name of your state? MD

My wife had an emotional affair with a coworker (no sex allegedly, but they have kissed) for several months earlier this year (assuming she has actually ended it). She works in the Dept of Def and has some clearances. He is a contractor with clearances.

Personally, I find an affair as a breach of character. It requires people to break their trust with their spouse, and to lie and hide the details from coworkers. My wife has not hidden it well and her boss and just about all her coworkers now know about it.

She already had a problem with her polygraph several months ago (probably because my grandfather is from Taiwan), but would something like this be a red flag? Could they view her as vulnerable to bribes or blackmail now? Do they see her as less trustworthy because of her infidelity?

Do I now have to worry about her losing her job? She makes more than me, and we can barely afford our mortgage as it is. Regardless of whether or not she and I work it out, I am concerned that my financial and credit situation could be ruined by something like this.

Is there anything she can do to preemptively lessen or avoid repercussions at work? Thanks.

 

[xylene]

Is there anything she can do to preemptively lessen or avoid repercussions at work? Thanks.

Preemptively: Maybe transfer to another department away from the subject of the affair

Otherwise be honest. Don't conceal anything.

People with serious problems retain security clearances. Canoodling with a co-worker when married looks worse to you than MANY things that people do and have and keep a clearnace

YOU need to get in counseling to get past this, whatever you do. Your opinion will not matter much (at all) in how the DoD resolves this.