diff --git a/server/src/http/mcp/story_tools/story/query.rs b/server/src/http/mcp/story_tools/story/query.rs
index 78856bc2..a70ec725 100644
--- a/server/src/http/mcp/story_tools/story/query.rs
+++ b/server/src/http/mcp/story_tools/story/query.rs
@@ -39,13 +39,17 @@ pub(crate) fn tool_get_pipeline_status(ctx: &AppContext) -> Result<String, Strin
     let state = load_pipeline_state(ctx)?;
     let running_merges = ctx.services.agents.list_running_merges()?;
 
+    fn slim_name(name: &str) -> &str {
+        crate::chat::util::truncate_at_char_boundary(name, 120)
+    }
+
     fn map_items(items: &[crate::http::workflow::UpcomingStory], stage: &str) -> Vec<Value> {
         items
             .iter()
             .map(|s| {
                 let mut item = json!({
                     "story_id": s.story_id,
-                    "name": s.name,
+                    "name": slim_name(&s.name),
                     "stage": stage,
                     "agent": s.agent.as_ref().map(|a| json!({
                         "agent_name": a.agent_name,
@@ -53,20 +57,12 @@ pub(crate) fn tool_get_pipeline_status(ctx: &AppContext) -> Result<String, Strin
                         "status": a.status,
                     })),
                 });
-                // Include blocked/retry_count when present so callers can
-                // identify stories stuck in the pipeline.
                 if let Some(true) = s.blocked {
                     item["blocked"] = json!(true);
                 }
                 if let Some(rc) = s.retry_count {
                     item["retry_count"] = json!(rc);
                 }
-                if let Some(ref mf) = s.merge_failure {
-                    item["merge_failure"] = json!(mf);
-                }
-                if let Some(ref epic_id) = s.epic_id {
-                    item["epic_id"] = json!(epic_id);
-                }
                 item
             })
             .collect()
@@ -81,19 +77,13 @@ pub(crate) fn tool_get_pipeline_status(ctx: &AppContext) -> Result<String, Strin
     let backlog: Vec<Value> = state
         .backlog
         .iter()
-        .map(|s| {
-            let mut item = json!({ "story_id": s.story_id, "name": s.name });
-            if let Some(ref epic_id) = s.epic_id {
-                item["epic_id"] = json!(epic_id);
-            }
-            item
-        })
+        .map(|s| json!({ "story_id": s.story_id, "name": slim_name(&s.name) }))
         .collect();
 
     let archived: Vec<Value> = state
         .archived
         .iter()
-        .map(|s| json!({ "story_id": s.story_id, "name": s.name, "stage": "archived" }))
+        .map(|s| json!({ "story_id": s.story_id, "name": slim_name(&s.name), "stage": "archived" }))
         .collect();
 
     serde_json::to_string_pretty(&json!({
@@ -248,6 +238,82 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(item["valid"], true);
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn pipeline_status_50_items_under_10kb() {
+        crate::db::ensure_content_store();
+        let stages = [
+            ("1_backlog", "backlog"),
+            ("2_current", "current"),
+            ("3_qa", "qa"),
+            ("4_merge", "merge"),
+            ("5_done", "done"),
+        ];
+        for (i, (dir, _)) in stages.iter().enumerate() {
+            for j in 0..10 {
+                let id = format!("99{i}{j}0_story_size_test");
+                let name = format!("Pipeline Size Test Story {i}-{j}");
+                crate::db::write_item_with_content(
+                    &id,
+                    dir,
+                    &format!("---\nname: \"{name}\"\n---\n"),
+                    crate::db::ItemMeta {
+                        name: Some(name),
+                        ..Default::default()
+                    },
+                );
+            }
+        }
+        let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let ctx = test_ctx(tmp.path());
+        let result = tool_get_pipeline_status(&ctx).unwrap();
+        assert!(
+            result.len() < 10 * 1024,
+            "50-item response must be under 10 KB; got {} bytes",
+            result.len()
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn pipeline_status_per_item_under_500_bytes() {
+        crate::db::ensure_content_store();
+        // Insert one item per active stage with a moderately long name.
+        let stages = [
+            ("2_current", "9995_story_peritem_current"),
+            ("3_qa", "9996_story_peritem_qa"),
+            ("4_merge", "9997_story_peritem_merge"),
+            ("5_done", "9998_story_peritem_done"),
+        ];
+        for (dir, id) in &stages {
+            let name = "A Reasonably Named Story For Size Testing";
+            crate::db::write_item_with_content(
+                id,
+                dir,
+                &format!("---\nname: \"{name}\"\n---\n"),
+                crate::db::ItemMeta {
+                    name: Some(name.to_string()),
+                    ..Default::default()
+                },
+            );
+        }
+        let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let ctx = test_ctx(tmp.path());
+        let result = tool_get_pipeline_status(&ctx).unwrap();
+        let parsed: Value = serde_json::from_str(&result).unwrap();
+        let active = parsed["active"].as_array().unwrap();
+        for item in active {
+            if stages.iter().any(|(_, id)| item["story_id"] == *id) {
+                let item_json = serde_json::to_string(item).unwrap();
+                assert!(
+                    item_json.len() < 500,
+                    "per-item payload must be under 500 bytes; story_id={} got {} bytes: {}",
+                    item["story_id"],
+                    item_json.len(),
+                    item_json
+                );
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn tool_validate_stories_with_invalid_front_matter() {
         let tmp = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
diff --git a/server/src/http/mcp/tools_list/story_tools.rs b/server/src/http/mcp/tools_list/story_tools.rs
index 2529115e..6148278c 100644
--- a/server/src/http/mcp/tools_list/story_tools.rs
+++ b/server/src/http/mcp/tools_list/story_tools.rs
@@ -574,7 +574,7 @@ pub(super) fn story_tools() -> Vec<Value> {
         }),
         json!({
             "name": "get_pipeline_status",
-            "description": "Return a structured snapshot of the full work item pipeline. Includes all active stages (current, qa, merge, done) with each item's stage, name, and assigned agent. Also includes upcoming backlog items.",
+            "description": "Return a structured snapshot of the full work item pipeline. Each item includes only slim fields: story_id, name (capped at 120 chars), stage, agent (with agent_name/model/status), and optional boolean flags blocked and retry_count. Active stages (current, qa, merge, done) appear in the 'active' array; backlog items in 'backlog'. For full story details, use status(story_id) or dump_crdt.",
             "inputSchema": {
                 "type": "object",
                 "properties": {}