diff --git a/admin_tests/preprints/test_views.py b/admin_tests/preprints/test_views.py
index 357ff643a06..5731c5c9aac 100644
--- a/admin_tests/preprints/test_views.py
+++ b/admin_tests/preprints/test_views.py
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@
 from osf.models.spam import SpamStatus
 from osf.utils.workflows import DefaultStates, RequestTypes
 from osf.utils.permissions import ADMIN
-from framework.auth import Auth
 
 from admin_tests.utilities import setup_view, setup_log_view, handle_post_view_request
 
diff --git a/api/nodes/views.py b/api/nodes/views.py
index 8ae38017b17..9bf2404d806 100644
--- a/api/nodes/views.py
+++ b/api/nodes/views.py
@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@
 from osf import features
 from packaging.version import Version
 from django.apps import apps
-from django.db.models import F, Max, Q, Subquery
+from django.db.models import F, Max, Q, Subquery, Exists, OuterRef
+from django.db import transaction
 from django.utils import timezone
 from django.contrib.contenttypes.models import ContentType
 from rest_framework import generics, permissions as drf_permissions, exceptions
@@ -154,6 +155,7 @@
     Folder,
     CedarMetadataRecord,
     Preprint, Collection,
+    Contributor,
 )
 from addons.osfstorage.models import Region
 from osf.utils.permissions import ADMIN, WRITE_NODE
@@ -549,9 +551,28 @@ def perform_destroy(self, instance):
         auth = get_user_auth(self.request)
         if node.visible_contributors.count() == 1 and instance.visible:
             raise ValidationError('Must have at least one visible contributor')
-        removed = node.remove_contributor(instance, auth)
-        if not removed:
-            raise ValidationError('Must have at least one registered admin contributor')
+
+        include_children = is_truthy(self.request.query_params.get('include_children', False))
+
+        if include_children and isinstance(node, Node):
+            hierarchy = Node.objects.get_children(node, active=True, include_root=True)
+            targets = hierarchy.filter(
+                Exists(
+                    Contributor.objects.filter(
+                        node=OuterRef('pk'),
+                        user=instance.user,
+                    ),
+                ),
+            )
+            with transaction.atomic():
+                for descendant in targets:
+                    removed = descendant.remove_contributor(instance, auth)
+                    if not removed:
+                        raise ValidationError(f'{descendant._id} must have at least one registered admin contributor')
+        else:
+            removed = node.remove_contributor(instance, auth)
+            if not removed:
+                raise ValidationError('Must have at least one registered admin contributor')
 
 
 class NodeImplicitContributorsList(JSONAPIBaseView, generics.ListAPIView, ListFilterMixin, NodeMixin):
diff --git a/api_tests/nodes/views/test_node_contributors_detail.py b/api_tests/nodes/views/test_node_contributors_detail.py
index 57f7e41444f..004a591cc2c 100644
--- a/api_tests/nodes/views/test_node_contributors_detail.py
+++ b/api_tests/nodes/views/test_node_contributors_detail.py
@@ -459,3 +459,46 @@ def test_can_remove_self_as_contributor_not_unique_admin(self, app, user_write_c
                 )
             assert res.status_code == 204
             assert user_write_contrib not in project.contributors
+
+    def test_remove_contributor_include_children_removes_descendants(self, app, user, user_write_contrib, project):
+        child1 = ProjectFactory(parent=project, creator=user)
+        child2 = ProjectFactory(parent=project, creator=user)
+        child1.add_contributor(user_write_contrib, permissions=permissions.WRITE, visible=True, save=True)
+        child2.add_contributor(user_write_contrib, permissions=permissions.WRITE, visible=True, save=True)
+
+        assert user_write_contrib in project.contributors
+        assert user_write_contrib in child1.contributors
+        assert user_write_contrib in child2.contributors
+
+        url = f'/{API_BASE}nodes/{project._id}/contributors/{user_write_contrib._id}/?include_children=true'
+        with disconnected_from_listeners(contributor_removed):
+            res = app.delete(url, auth=user.auth)
+        assert res.status_code == 204
+
+        project.reload()
+        child1.reload()
+        child2.reload()
+
+        assert user_write_contrib not in project.contributors
+        assert user_write_contrib not in child1.contributors
+        assert user_write_contrib not in child2.contributors
+
+    def test_remove_contributor_include_children_is_atomic_on_violation(self, app, user, user_write_contrib, project):
+        child = ProjectFactory(parent=project, creator=user)
+        child.add_contributor(user_write_contrib, permissions=permissions.ADMIN, visible=True, save=True)
+        child.set_permissions(user, permissions.READ, save=True)
+
+        assert user_write_contrib in project.contributors
+        assert user_write_contrib in child.contributors
+
+        url = f'/{API_BASE}nodes/{project._id}/contributors/{user_write_contrib._id}/?include_children=true'
+        with disconnected_from_listeners(contributor_removed):
+            res = app.delete(url, auth=user.auth, expect_errors=True)
+
+        assert res.status_code == 400
+
+        project.reload()
+        child.reload()
+
+        assert user_write_contrib in project.contributors
+        assert user_write_contrib in child.contributors