diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index a12b61f..f17b287 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ all via cron and `claude -p`. The dispatcher executes formula-based operational
 tasks.
 
 > **Note:** The vault is being redesigned as a PR-based approval workflow on the
-> ops repo (see issues #73-#77). See [docs/VAULT.md](docs/VAULT.md) for details. Old vault scripts are being removed.
+> ops repo (see issues #73-#77). Old vault scripts are being removed.
 
 See `README.md` for the full architecture and `disinto-factory/SKILL.md` for setup.
 
@@ -95,7 +95,6 @@ bash dev/phase-test.sh
 | Predictor | `predictor/` | Infrastructure pattern detection | [predictor/AGENTS.md](predictor/AGENTS.md) |
 
 > **Vault:** Being redesigned as a PR-based approval workflow (issues #73-#77).
-> See [docs/VAULT.md](docs/VAULT.md) for the vault PR workflow details.
 
 See [lib/AGENTS.md](lib/AGENTS.md) for the full shared helper reference.
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 40c9889..f6a7165 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -122,8 +122,6 @@ disinto/
 │   └── (formula-driven)  # run-planner.toml executed by dispatcher
 ├── vault/
 │   └── vault-env.sh      # Shared env setup (vault redesign in progress, see #73-#77)
-├── docs/
-│   └── VAULT.md          # Vault PR workflow and branch protection documentation
 └── supervisor/
     ├── supervisor-poll.sh   # Supervisor: health checks + claude -p
     ├── update-prompt.sh  # Self-learning: append to best-practices
@@ -148,7 +146,6 @@ disinto/
 | **Planner** | Weekly | Updates AGENTS.md documentation to reflect recent code changes, then gap-analyses VISION.md vs current state and creates up to 5 backlog issues for the highest-leverage gaps. |
 
 > **Vault:** Being redesigned as a PR-based approval workflow (issues #73-#77).
-> See [docs/VAULT.md](docs/VAULT.md) for the vault PR workflow and branch protection details.
 
 ## Design Principles
 
diff --git a/docs/VAULT.md b/docs/VAULT.md
deleted file mode 100644
index da2c1a9..0000000
--- a/docs/VAULT.md
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,98 +0,0 @@
-# Vault PR Workflow
-
-This document describes the vault PR-based approval workflow for the ops repo.
-
-## Overview
-
-The vault system enables agents to request execution of privileged actions (deployments, token operations, etc.) through a PR-based approval process. This replaces the old vault directory structure with a more auditable, collaborative workflow.
-
-## Branch Protection
-
-The `main` branch on the ops repo (`johba/disinto-ops`) is protected via Forgejo branch protection to enforce:
-
-- **Require 1 approval before merge** — All vault PRs must have at least one approval from an admin user
-- **Admin-only merge** — Only users with admin role can merge vault PRs (regular collaborators and bot accounts cannot)
-- **Block direct pushes** — All changes to `main` must go through PRs
-
-### Protection Rules
-
-| Setting | Value |
-|---------|-------|
-| `enable_push` | `false` |
-| `enable_force_push` | `false` |
-| `enable_merge_commit` | `true` |
-| `required_approvals` | `1` |
-| `admin_enforced` | `true` |
-
-## Vault PR Lifecycle
-
-1. **Request** — Agent calls `lib/vault.sh:vault_request()` with action TOML content
-2. **Validation** — TOML is validated against the schema in `vault/vault-env.sh`
-3. **PR Creation** — A PR is created on `disinto-ops` with:
-   - Branch: `vault/<action-id>`
-   - Title: `vault: <action-id>`
-   - Labels: `vault`, `pending-approval`
-   - File: `vault/actions/<action-id>.toml`
-4. **Approval** — Admin user reviews and approves the PR
-5. **Execution** — Dispatcher (issue #76) polls for approved vault PRs and executes them
-6. **Cleanup** — Executed vault items are moved to `fired/` (via PR)
-
-## Bot Account Behavior
-
-Bot accounts (dev-bot, review-bot, vault-bot, etc.) **cannot merge vault PRs** even if they have approval, due to the `admin_enforced` setting. This ensures:
-
-- Only human admins can approve sensitive vault actions
-- Bot accounts can only create vault PRs, not execute them
-- Manual admin review is always required for privileged operations
-
-## Setup
-
-To set up branch protection on the ops repo:
-
-```bash
-# Source environment
-source lib/env.sh
-source lib/branch-protection.sh
-
-# Set up protection
-setup_vault_branch_protection main
-
-# Verify setup
-verify_branch_protection main
-```
-
-Or use the CLI directly:
-
-```bash
-export FORGE_TOKEN="<admin-token>"
-export FORGE_URL="https://codeberg.org"
-export FORGE_OPS_REPO="johba/disinto-ops"
-
-# Set up protection
-bash lib/branch-protection.sh setup main
-
-# Verify
-bash lib/branch-protection.sh verify main
-```
-
-## Testing
-
-To verify the protection is working:
-
-1. **Bot cannot merge** — Attempt to merge a PR with a bot token (should fail with HTTP 405)
-2. **Admin can merge** — Attempt to merge with admin token (should succeed)
-3. **Direct push blocked** — Attempt `git push origin main` (should be rejected)
-
-## Related Issues
-
-- #73 — Vault redesign proposal
-- #74 — Vault action TOML schema
-- #75 — Vault PR creation helper (`lib/vault.sh`)
-- #76 — Dispatcher rewrite (poll for merged vault PRs)
-- #77 — Branch protection on ops repo (this issue)
-
-## See Also
-
-- [`lib/vault.sh`](../lib/vault.sh) — Vault PR creation helper
-- [`vault/vault-env.sh`](../vault/vault-env.sh) — TOML validation
-- [`lib/branch-protection.sh`](../lib/branch-protection.sh) — Branch protection helper
diff --git a/lib/branch-protection.sh b/lib/branch-protection.sh
deleted file mode 100644
index 340d53a..0000000
--- a/lib/branch-protection.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,285 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env bash
-# branch-protection.sh — Helper for setting up branch protection on repos
-#
-# Source after lib/env.sh:
-#   source "$(dirname "$0")/../lib/env.sh"
-#   source "$(dirname "$0")/lib/branch-protection.sh"
-#
-# Required globals: FORGE_TOKEN, FORGE_URL, FORGE_OPS_REPO
-#
-# Functions:
-#   setup_vault_branch_protection — Set up admin-only branch protection for main
-#   verify_branch_protection — Verify protection is configured correctly
-#   remove_branch_protection — Remove branch protection (for cleanup/testing)
-#
-# Branch protection settings:
-# - Require 1 approval before merge
-# - Restrict merge to admin role (not regular collaborators or bots)
-# - Block direct pushes to main (all changes must go through PR)
-
-set -euo pipefail
-
-# Internal log helper
-_bp_log() {
-  if declare -f log >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    log "branch-protection: $*"
-  else
-    printf '[%s] branch-protection: %s\n' "$(date -u '+%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S UTC')" "$*" >&2
-  fi
-}
-
-# Get ops repo API URL
-_ops_api() {
-  printf '%s' "${FORGE_URL}/api/v1/repos/${FORGE_OPS_REPO}"
-}
-
-# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# setup_vault_branch_protection — Set up admin-only branch protection for main
-#
-# Configures the following protection rules:
-# - Require 1 approval before merge
-# - Restrict merge to admin role (not regular collaborators or bots)
-# - Block direct pushes to main (all changes must go through PR)
-#
-# Returns: 0 on success, 1 on failure
-# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-setup_vault_branch_protection() {
-  local branch="${1:-main}"
-  local api_url
-  api_url="$(_ops_api)"
-
-  _bp_log "Setting up branch protection for ${branch} on ${FORGE_OPS_REPO}"
-
-  # Check if branch exists
-  local branch_exists
-  branch_exists=$(curl -s -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" \
-    -H "Authorization: token ${FORGE_TOKEN}" \
-    "${api_url}/git/branches/${branch}" 2>/dev/null || echo "0")
-
-  if [ "$branch_exists" != "200" ]; then
-    _bp_log "ERROR: Branch ${branch} does not exist"
-    return 1
-  fi
-
-  # Check if protection already exists
-  local protection_exists
-  protection_exists=$(curl -s -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" \
-    -H "Authorization: token ${FORGE_TOKEN}" \
-    "${api_url}/branches/${branch}/protection" 2>/dev/null || echo "0")
-
-  if [ "$protection_exists" = "200" ]; then
-    _bp_log "Branch protection already exists for ${branch}"
-    _bp_log "Updating existing protection rules"
-  fi
-
-  # Create/update branch protection
-  # Note: Forgejo API uses "require_signed_commits" and "required_approvals" for approval requirements
-  # The "admin_enforced" field ensures only admins can merge
-  local protection_json
-  protection_json=$(cat <<EOF
-{
-  "enable_push": false,
-  "enable_force_push": false,
-  "enable_merge_commit": true,
-  "enable_rebase": true,
-  "enable_rebase_merge": true,
-  "required_approvals": 1,
-  "required_signatures": false,
-  "admin_enforced": true,
-  "required_status_checks": false,
-  "required_linear_history": false
-}
-EOF
-)
-
-  local http_code
-  if [ "$protection_exists" = "200" ]; then
-    # Update existing protection
-    http_code=$(curl -s -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" \
-      -X PUT \
-      -H "Authorization: token ${FORGE_TOKEN}" \
-      -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-      "${api_url}/branches/${branch}/protection" \
-      -d "$protection_json" || echo "0")
-  else
-    # Create new protection
-    http_code=$(curl -s -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" \
-      -X POST \
-      -H "Authorization: token ${FORGE_TOKEN}" \
-      -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-      "${api_url}/branches/${branch}/protection" \
-      -d "$protection_json" || echo "0")
-  fi
-
-  if [ "$http_code" != "200" ] && [ "$http_code" != "201" ]; then
-    _bp_log "ERROR: Failed to set up branch protection (HTTP ${http_code})"
-    return 1
-  fi
-
-  _bp_log "Branch protection configured successfully for ${branch}"
-  _bp_log "  - Pushes blocked: true"
-  _bp_log "  - Force pushes blocked: true"
-  _bp_log "  - Required approvals: 1"
-  _bp_log "  - Admin enforced: true"
-
-  return 0
-}
-
-# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# verify_branch_protection — Verify protection is configured correctly
-#
-# Returns: 0 if protection is configured correctly, 1 otherwise
-# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-verify_branch_protection() {
-  local branch="${1:-main}"
-  local api_url
-  api_url="$(_ops_api)"
-
-  _bp_log "Verifying branch protection for ${branch}"
-
-  # Get current protection settings
-  local protection_json
-  protection_json=$(curl -sf -H "Authorization: token ${FORGE_TOKEN}" \
-    "${api_url}/branches/${branch}/protection" 2>/dev/null || true)
-
-  if [ -z "$protection_json" ] || [ "$protection_json" = "null" ]; then
-    _bp_log "ERROR: No branch protection found for ${branch}"
-    return 1
-  fi
-
-  # Extract and validate settings
-  local enable_push enable_merge_commit required_approvals admin_enforced
-  enable_push=$(printf '%s' "$protection_json" | jq -r '.enable_push // true')
-  enable_merge_commit=$(printf '%s' "$protection_json" | jq -r '.enable_merge_commit // false')
-  required_approvals=$(printf '%s' "$protection_json" | jq -r '.required_approvals // 0')
-  admin_enforced=$(printf '%s' "$protection_json" | jq -r '.admin_enforced // false')
-
-  local errors=0
-
-  # Check push is disabled
-  if [ "$enable_push" = "true" ]; then
-    _bp_log "ERROR: enable_push should be false"
-    errors=$((errors + 1))
-  else
-    _bp_log "OK: Pushes are blocked"
-  fi
-
-  # Check merge commit is enabled
-  if [ "$enable_merge_commit" != "true" ]; then
-    _bp_log "ERROR: enable_merge_commit should be true"
-    errors=$((errors + 1))
-  else
-    _bp_log "OK: Merge commits are allowed"
-  fi
-
-  # Check required approvals
-  if [ "$required_approvals" -lt 1 ]; then
-    _bp_log "ERROR: required_approvals should be at least 1"
-    errors=$((errors + 1))
-  else
-    _bp_log "OK: Required approvals: ${required_approvals}"
-  fi
-
-  # Check admin enforced
-  if [ "$admin_enforced" != "true" ]; then
-    _bp_log "ERROR: admin_enforced should be true"
-    errors=$((errors + 1))
-  else
-    _bp_log "OK: Admin enforcement enabled"
-  fi
-
-  if [ "$errors" -gt 0 ]; then
-    _bp_log "Verification failed with ${errors} error(s)"
-    return 1
-  fi
-
-  _bp_log "Branch protection verified successfully"
-  return 0
-}
-
-# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# remove_branch_protection — Remove branch protection (for cleanup/testing)
-#
-# Returns: 0 on success, 1 on failure
-# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-remove_branch_protection() {
-  local branch="${1:-main}"
-  local api_url
-  api_url="$(_ops_api)"
-
-  _bp_log "Removing branch protection for ${branch}"
-
-  # Check if protection exists
-  local protection_exists
-  protection_exists=$(curl -s -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" \
-    -H "Authorization: token ${FORGE_TOKEN}" \
-    "${api_url}/branches/${branch}/protection" 2>/dev/null || echo "0")
-
-  if [ "$protection_exists" != "200" ]; then
-    _bp_log "No branch protection found for ${branch}"
-    return 0
-  fi
-
-  # Delete protection
-  local http_code
-  http_code=$(curl -s -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" \
-    -X DELETE \
-    -H "Authorization: token ${FORGE_TOKEN}" \
-    "${api_url}/branches/${branch}/protection" 2>/dev/null || echo "0")
-
-  if [ "$http_code" != "204" ]; then
-    _bp_log "ERROR: Failed to remove branch protection (HTTP ${http_code})"
-    return 1
-  fi
-
-  _bp_log "Branch protection removed successfully for ${branch}"
-  return 0
-}
-
-# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Test mode — run when executed directly
-# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-if [[ "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" == "${0}" ]]; then
-  # Check required env vars
-  if [ -z "${FORGE_TOKEN:-}" ]; then
-    echo "ERROR: FORGE_TOKEN is required" >&2
-    exit 1
-  fi
-
-  if [ -z "${FORGE_URL:-}" ]; then
-    echo "ERROR: FORGE_URL is required" >&2
-    exit 1
-  fi
-
-  if [ -z "${FORGE_OPS_REPO:-}" ]; then
-    echo "ERROR: FORGE_OPS_REPO is required" >&2
-    exit 1
-  fi
-
-  # Parse command line args
-  case "${1:-help}" in
-    setup)
-      setup_vault_branch_protection "${2:-main}"
-      ;;
-    verify)
-      verify_branch_protection "${2:-main}"
-      ;;
-    remove)
-      remove_branch_protection "${2:-main}"
-      ;;
-    help|*)
-      echo "Usage: $0 {setup|verify|remove} [branch]"
-      echo ""
-      echo "Commands:"
-      echo "  setup [branch]  Set up branch protection (default: main)"
-      echo "  verify [branch] Verify branch protection is configured correctly"
-      echo "  remove [branch] Remove branch protection (for cleanup/testing)"
-      echo ""
-      echo "Required environment variables:"
-      echo "  FORGE_TOKEN     Forgejo API token (admin user recommended)"
-      echo "  FORGE_URL       Forgejo instance URL (e.g., https://codeberg.org)"
-      echo "  FORGE_OPS_REPO  Ops repo in format owner/repo (e.g., johba/disinto-ops)"
-      exit 0
-      ;;
-  esac
-fi