diff --git a/src/registrar/admin.py b/src/registrar/admin.py
index c5f5be276..8225246b9 100644
--- a/src/registrar/admin.py
+++ b/src/registrar/admin.py
@@ -793,7 +793,7 @@ class DomainApplicationAdmin(ListHeaderAdmin):
     # Detail view
     form = DomainApplicationAdminForm
     fieldsets = [
-        (None, {"fields": ["status", "investigator", "creator", "approved_domain", "notes"]}),
+        (None, {"fields": ["status", "rejection_reason", "investigator", "creator", "approved_domain", "notes"]}),
         (
             "Type of organization",
             {
@@ -901,6 +901,24 @@ class DomainApplicationAdmin(ListHeaderAdmin):
                         "This action is not permitted. The domain is already active.",
                     )
 
+                elif (
+                    obj
+                    and obj.status == models.DomainApplication.ApplicationStatus.REJECTED
+                    and not obj.rejection_reason
+                ):
+                    # This condition should never be triggered.
+                    # The opposite of this condition is acceptable (rejected -> other status and rejection_reason)
+                    # because we clean up the rejection reason in the transition in the model.
+
+                    # Clear the success message
+                    messages.set_level(request, messages.ERROR)
+
+                    messages.error(
+                        request,
+                        "A rejection reason is required.",
+                    )
+                
+
                 else:
                     if obj.status != original_obj.status:
                         status_method_mapping = {
diff --git a/src/registrar/assets/js/get-gov-admin.js b/src/registrar/assets/js/get-gov-admin.js
index 866c7bd7d..b5f5a6aaa 100644
--- a/src/registrar/assets/js/get-gov-admin.js
+++ b/src/registrar/assets/js/get-gov-admin.js
@@ -312,3 +312,27 @@ function enableRelatedWidgetButtons(changeLink, deleteLink, viewLink, elementPk,
     }
 
 })();
+
+/** An IIFE for admin in DjangoAdmin to listen to changes on the domain request
+ * status select amd to show/hide the rejection reason
+*/
+(function (){
+
+    // Get the rejection reason form row
+    let rejectionReasonFormGroup = document.querySelector('.field-rejection_reason')
+
+    if (rejectionReasonFormGroup) {
+        // Get the status select
+        let statusSelect = document.getElementById('id_status')
+
+        // If status is rejected, hide the rejection reason on load
+        if (statusSelect.value != 'rejected')
+            rejectionReasonFormGroup.style.display = 'none';
+
+        // Listen to status changes and toggle rejection reason
+        statusSelect.addEventListener('change', function() {
+            rejectionReasonFormGroup.style.display = statusSelect.value !== 'rejected' ? 'none' : 'block';
+        });
+    }
+
+})();
diff --git a/src/registrar/migrations/0070_domainapplication_rejection_reason.py b/src/registrar/migrations/0070_domainapplication_rejection_reason.py
index c49f4d442..defeb4d95 100644
--- a/src/registrar/migrations/0070_domainapplication_rejection_reason.py
+++ b/src/registrar/migrations/0070_domainapplication_rejection_reason.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ class Migration(migrations.Migration):
                         "Research could not corroborate legitimacy of contacts or organization",
                     ),
                     ("organization_eligibility", "Organization isn't eligible for a .gov"),
-                    ("naming_requirements", "naming requirements not met"),
+                    ("naming_requirements", "Naming requirements not met"),
                 ],
                 null=True,
             ),
diff --git a/src/registrar/models/domain_application.py b/src/registrar/models/domain_application.py
index 563c7699e..3f6fcc99f 100644
--- a/src/registrar/models/domain_application.py
+++ b/src/registrar/models/domain_application.py
@@ -356,7 +356,7 @@ class DomainApplication(TimeStampedModel):
         SECOND_DOMAIN_REASONING = "second_domain_reasoning", "Organization already has a domain and does not provide sufficient reasoning for a second domain"
         CONTACTS_OR_ORGANIZATION_LEGITIMACY = "contacts_or_organization_legitimacy", "Research could not corroborate legitimacy of contacts or organization"
         ORGANIZATION_ELIGIBILITY = "organization_eligibility", "Organization isn't eligible for a .gov"
-        NAMING_REQUIREMENTS = "naming_requirements", "naming requirements not met"
+        NAMING_REQUIREMENTS = "naming_requirements", "Naming requirements not met"
 
     # #### Internal fields about the application #####
     status = FSMField(
@@ -694,12 +694,17 @@ class DomainApplication(TimeStampedModel):
 
         This action is logged.
 
+        This action cleans up the rejection status if moving away from rejected.
+
         As side effects this will delete the domain and domain_information
         (will cascade) when they exist."""
 
         if self.status == self.ApplicationStatus.APPROVED:
             self.delete_and_clean_up_domain("in_review")
 
+        if self.status == self.ApplicationStatus.REJECTED:
+            self.rejection_reason = None
+
         literal = DomainApplication.ApplicationStatus.IN_REVIEW
         # Check if the tuple exists, then grab its value
         in_review = literal if literal is not None else "In Review"
@@ -721,12 +726,17 @@ class DomainApplication(TimeStampedModel):
 
         This action is logged.
 
+        This action cleans up the rejection status if moving away from rejected.
+
         As side effects this will delete the domain and domain_information
         (will cascade) when they exist."""
 
         if self.status == self.ApplicationStatus.APPROVED:
             self.delete_and_clean_up_domain("reject_with_prejudice")
 
+        if self.status == self.ApplicationStatus.REJECTED:
+            self.rejection_reason = None
+
         literal = DomainApplication.ApplicationStatus.ACTION_NEEDED
         # Check if the tuple is setup correctly, then grab its value
         action_needed = literal if literal is not None else "Action Needed"
@@ -745,6 +755,8 @@ class DomainApplication(TimeStampedModel):
     def approve(self, send_email=True):
         """Approve an application that has been submitted.
 
+        This action cleans up the rejection status if moving away from rejected.
+
         This has substantial side-effects because it creates another database
         object for the approved Domain and makes the user who created the
         application into an admin on that domain. It also triggers an email
@@ -767,6 +779,9 @@ class DomainApplication(TimeStampedModel):
             user=self.creator, domain=created_domain, role=UserDomainRole.Roles.MANAGER
         )
 
+        if self.status == self.ApplicationStatus.REJECTED:
+            self.rejection_reason = None
+
         self._send_status_update_email(
             "application approved",
             "emails/status_change_approved.txt",