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+<!--
+SPDX-License-Identifier: MPL-2.0
+SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2026 Jonathan D.A. Jewell (hyperpolymath)
+-->
+
+# Proof Debt — absolute-zero
+
+**Schema**: [hyperpolymath/standards `TRUSTED-BASE-REDUCTION-POLICY.adoc`](https://github.com/hyperpolymath/standards/blob/main/docs/TRUSTED-BASE-REDUCTION-POLICY.adoc) (standards#203).
+
+## Initial inventory
+
+The 2026-05-26 estate proof-debt audit
+([standards#195](https://github.com/hyperpolymath/standards/pull/195))
+detected **129 soundness-relevant escape hatches** in this
+repo. This file is the **initial seed** — every marker starts in §(d)
+DEBT and the maintainer triages each into §(a) / §(b) / §(c) / §(d) as
+classification proceeds.
+
+## (a) DISCHARGED in this repo
+
+*(None yet — entries move here when the proof lands or the construct
+is removed.)*
+
+## (b) BUDGETED — tested with a refutation budget
+
+*(None yet — entries belong here when the construct is at an
+extraction boundary and is covered by a documented property-test
+budget.)*
+
+## (c) NECESSARY AXIOM
+
+*(None yet — entries belong here when the construct encodes a
+metatheoretic assumption that cannot be discharged within the working
+logic.)*
+
+## (d) DEBT — actively to be closed
+
+All 129 markers below start in this section. As the
+maintainer classifies each, it should be moved into §(a) / §(b) /
+§(c) as appropriate. Markers that genuinely belong in §(d) need a
+deadline and an owner.
+
+```
+(no markers; check-trusted-base passes already)
+```
+
+> If `129` > 30, the list above shows the first 30 only.
+> The full list is reproducible via:
+>
+> ```bash
+> bash /path/to/standards/scripts/check-trusted-base.sh .
+> ```
+
+## Suggested triage process
+
+1. Run `scripts/check-trusted-base.sh` locally; it lists every marker
+   with file:line.
+2. For each marker, decide:
+   - Can this be proven? → §(a) DISCHARGED via a PR that adds the proof.
+   - Is this at an FFI / extraction / opaque-primitive boundary? →
+     §(b) or §(c). Add a property test and document the refutation
+     budget for §(b), or cite the metatheoretic justification for §(c).
+   - Is this temporary debt? → §(d) with a deadline.
+3. Update this file in the same PR that lands the disposition.
+4. The `check-trusted-base` CI job (standards#211) ensures markers
+   are never un-annotated AND un-enumerated simultaneously.
+
+## Companion documents
+
+- [standards#195](https://github.com/hyperpolymath/standards/pull/195) — estate proof-debt audit.
+- [standards#203](https://github.com/hyperpolymath/standards/pull/203) — trusted-base reduction policy (the schema this file follows).
+- [standards#211](https://github.com/hyperpolymath/standards/pull/211) — `check-trusted-base.sh` CI enforcement.
+
+---
+
+🤖 Initial seed by Claude Code, 2026-05-26.