A US federal watchdog has said senior Trump aide Kellyanne Conway should be fired for "numerous violations" of rules about engaging in political activity while in office.
The recommendation comes in a letter and report to Donald Trump from the Office of the Special Counsel, an oversight body for the federal government.
Special Counsel Henry Kerner accuses Mrs Conway of "numerous violations" of the Hatch Act.
The legislation prohibits most employees in the executive branch (excluding the likes of the president and vice president) from engaging in certain forms of political activity - such as the use of official authority to interfere with or affect an election.
According to the report, Mrs Conway "repeatedly continues to violate the law".
It cites her criticism of Democratic presidential candidates and "open endorsement" of Donald Trump's re-election effort during media appearances and on her Twitter account.
The report suggests these actions "constitute prohibited political activity".
Mr Kerner writes in his letter: "If Ms Conway were any other federal employee, her multiple violations of the law would almost certainly result in removal from her federal position.
"As a highly visible member of the Administration, Ms Conway's violations, if left unpunished, send a message to all federal employees that they need not abide by the Hatch Act's restrictions.
"Her actions erode the principal foundation of our democratic system - the rule of law."
Ms Conway - who has the official title of counsellor to the president - is one of the most well-known members of the Trump administration, and often serves as one of its public faces.
In a letter published by CNN, the White House said the watchdog's report on Mrs Conway should be withdrawn.
White House lawyer Pat Cipollone argues the report is based on "numerous grave legal, factual, and procedural errors".
He writes: "OSC's overbroad and unsupported interpretation of the Hatch Act risks violating Ms Conway's First Amendment rights and chills the free speech of all government employees."
