Q. I’m 63 years old with 17 years with the federal government. Can I lose my pension if I get fired for misconduct? A. No, you can’t. Under 5 U.S. Code 8312, employees can only lose their pension if they are convicted of such offenses as gathering or delivering defense information to a foreign government, treason, insurrection, sedition, conspiracy or advocating the overthrow of the government.