UK expat moving to DC: what to do with missus?

[smurfario]

Bit of a punt this one, but TRFers are such a helpful bunch I thought it worth a try.

I have been offered a posting to Washington DC with my company. It's a fantastic opportunity for a Brit to get stuck into the Beltway scene during an interesting time in US politics, and one I am loathe to pass up. However, what to do with my wife...?

I already work away during the week and there is no question of her not coming with me, but I am worried about her work. She wants to work (damn, we need the money ) but as a UK civil servant with UK specific skills - she's an Environmental Health Officer - what on earth can she do in DC? How hard is it to get a work permit, for instance? I will of course badger my company to help, but if it cannot, what then?

Does anyone here have any guidance, be it general or specific, about expat spouses working in the US? This particular bombshell only hit today so I am scurrying around for info from any sources I can think of, but there's nowt like the real life experience of real people!

Cheers,

Jim