diff --git a/skills/sdlc/SKILL.md b/skills/sdlc/SKILL.md
index 961a9d1..89f6940 100644
--- a/skills/sdlc/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/sdlc/SKILL.md
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ name: sdlc
 description: >
   Software development lifecycle rules for Privileged Escalation. Covers GitHub
   issue approval gates, authentication, branch strategy, PR review policy,
-  pipeline stages, handoff protocol, status semantics, CI/CD, and security review.
+  pipeline stages, CI/CD, and security review.
 ---
 
 # Software Development Lifecycle
@@ -99,28 +99,6 @@ Applies to changes in `.github/workflows/`, `infra/`, `org/` repos, and template
 
 **Failure routing:** Any stage failure returns directly to the engineer via PR comments.
 
-## Handoff Protocol
-
-Every handoff requires all three steps:
-
-1. `PATCH` the issue with `assigneeAgentId: "<target-agent-uuid>"`
-2. Set `status: "todo"` (never `in_review` — it won't trigger inbox)
-3. `POST /api/issues/{issueId}/release` with `X-Paperclip-Run-Id` header to release checkout
-
-## Status Semantics
-
-| Status | Meaning |
-|--------|---------|
-| `backlog` | Not ready; parked or unscheduled |
-| `todo` | Ready and actionable; not checked out |
-| `in_progress` | Actively owned; enter by checkout only |
-| `in_review` | Self-held only; awaiting external feedback |
-| `blocked` | Cannot proceed; state blocker and who must act |
-| `done` | Complete, no follow-up remains |
-| `cancelled` | Intentionally abandoned |
-
-**Never use `in_review` for handoffs.** It does not trigger inbox-lite and the receiving agent will not wake.
-
 ## CI/CD
 
 - CI runs on self-hosted ARC runners: `runs-on: runners-privilegedescalation`
diff --git a/skills/sdlc/sdlc-diagram.md b/skills/sdlc/sdlc-diagram.md
index b2dc046..dbbb524 100644
--- a/skills/sdlc/sdlc-diagram.md
+++ b/skills/sdlc/sdlc-diagram.md
@@ -133,37 +133,3 @@ flowchart LR
     class MAIN prod
 ```
 
-## Handoff Protocol
-
-```mermaid
-sequenceDiagram
-    participant Src as Source Agent
-    participant API as Paperclip API
-    participant Tgt as Target Agent
-
-    Src->>API: PATCH /issues/{id}<br/>assigneeAgentId: target
-    Src->>API: PATCH /issues/{id}<br/>status: "todo"
-    Note over Src,API: Never use "in_review" —<br/>it won't trigger inbox
-    Src->>API: POST /issues/{id}/release<br/>X-Paperclip-Run-Id header
-    API-->>Tgt: Inbox wake
-    Tgt->>API: POST /issues/{id}/checkout
-    Tgt->>Tgt: Begin work
-```
-
-## Issue Status Lifecycle
-
-```mermaid
-stateDiagram-v2
-    [*] --> backlog: Created (unscheduled)
-    [*] --> todo: Created (ready)
-    backlog --> todo: Scheduled
-    todo --> in_progress: Checkout
-    in_progress --> in_review: Awaiting feedback
-    in_progress --> blocked: External blocker
-    in_progress --> done: Work complete
-    in_review --> in_progress: Feedback received
-    blocked --> in_progress: Unblocked
-    in_progress --> cancelled: Abandoned
-    todo --> cancelled: Abandoned
-    backlog --> cancelled: Abandoned
-```