diff --git a/.github/scripts/test_milestone_e_package_publication_approval_decision_record.py b/.github/scripts/test_milestone_e_package_publication_approval_decision_record.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..740c7a0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/scripts/test_milestone_e_package_publication_approval_decision_record.py
@@ -0,0 +1,207 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+#
+# Copyright 2026 The Ethos maintainers
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+#
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import json
+import re
+import subprocess
+import unittest
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from makefile_guard import target_block
+
+
+ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[2]
+PREP = ROOT / "docs/milestone-e-package-publication-approval-prep.json"
+RECORD = (
+    ROOT
+    / "docs/validation/"
+    "milestone-e-package-publication-approval-decision-validation-2026-06-21.md"
+)
+VALIDATION_README = ROOT / "docs/validation/README.md"
+PREP_SCOPE = ROOT / "docs/milestone-e-prep-scope.md"
+ROADMAP = ROOT / "docs/roadmap.md"
+EXECUTION_STATUS = ROOT / "docs/execution-status.md"
+CI_WORKFLOW = ROOT / ".github/workflows/ci.yml"
+
+SOURCE_COMMIT = "fdbd5b7e1817ab73d459f25faadc2132263d88ff"
+SOURCE_SHORT = "fdbd5b7"
+SOURCE_TREE = "4a7bf5cda2c779e41a04c3feb691a12fec1e5c8d"
+REQUIRED_DECISION_FIELDS = [
+    "Decision: reject current package publication approval request.",
+    "Approver: docushell-admin acting as decider.",
+    "Date: 2026-06-21.",
+    "Exact candidate crate list reviewed for this decision: `ethos-doc-core`, `ethos-verify`, and `ethos-pdf` only.",
+    "Exact package version map approved by this decision: none; candidate `0.1.0` remains unapproved.",
+    "Exact package tag name set approved by this decision: none; candidate package tags remain uncreated and unapproved.",
+    "Exact package tag source commit and source tree approved by this decision: none.",
+    "Exact package-name migration diff for `ethos-doc-core` approved by this decision: none; current Cargo manifests remain unchanged.",
+    "Exact dependency manifest activation diff for `ethos-verify` and `ethos-pdf` approved by this decision: none; current Cargo manifests remain unchanged.",
+    "Exact registry-backed dependent package assembly evidence after manifest activation: absent; no registry is created and no registry-backed assembly is activated.",
+    "Exact public installation wording approved by this decision: none; public installation wording remains blocked.",
+    "Public-surface posture check result after this decision: passed with no public installation wording approval.",
+    "Claims gate result after this decision: passed with package publication blocked.",
+    "Milestone E prep result after this decision record: required for this record branch.",
+]
+FORBIDDEN_SCOPE_EXPANSION = [
+    "package publication approved",
+    "package publication is approved",
+    "public installation approved",
+    "public installation is approved",
+    "public installation wording is approved",
+    "package tag creation approved",
+    "cargo manifests are changed",
+    "registry creation approved",
+    "registry-backed assembly activation approved",
+    "release-ready",
+    "release artifact approved",
+    "package-ready",
+    "packages are published",
+    "published packages",
+    "production-ready",
+    "benchmark-validated",
+    "public benchmark pass",
+    "speed validated",
+    "fastest",
+    "launch-ready",
+    "hosted surface approved",
+    "hosted demo approved",
+    "demo-ready",
+    "performance validated",
+    "quality validated",
+    "footprint validated",
+    "table-quality validated",
+    "parser-quality validated",
+]
+
+
+def read(path: Path) -> str:
+    return path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+
+
+def normalized(path: Path) -> str:
+    return re.sub(r"\s+", " ", read(path))
+
+
+def load_json(path: Path) -> dict:
+    return json.loads(path.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+
+
+def git(*args: str) -> str:
+    return subprocess.check_output(
+        ["git", *args],
+        cwd=ROOT,
+        encoding="utf-8",
+        stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL,
+    ).strip()
+
+
+class MilestoneEPackagePublicationApprovalDecisionRecordTests(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_decision_record_is_indexed_and_source_bound(self) -> None:
+        prep = load_json(PREP)
+        readme = read(VALIDATION_README)
+        record = normalized(RECORD)
+
+        self.assertIn(RECORD.name, readme)
+        self.assertIn("package publication approval decision validation", readme)
+        self.assertEqual(
+            "docs/validation/"
+            "milestone-e-package-publication-approval-decision-validation-2026-06-21.md",
+            prep["follow_up_records"]["package_approval_decision_record"],
+        )
+        self.assertIn(f"Validated source HEAD before this record: `{SOURCE_SHORT}`", read(RECORD))
+        self.assertIn(f"Approval decision source commit: `{SOURCE_COMMIT}`", record)
+        self.assertIn(f"Approval decision source tree: `{SOURCE_TREE}`", record)
+        self.assertEqual(SOURCE_COMMIT, git("rev-parse", SOURCE_SHORT))
+        self.assertEqual(SOURCE_TREE, git("rev-parse", f"{SOURCE_SHORT}^{{tree}}"))
+
+    def test_decision_rejects_current_package_publication_request(self) -> None:
+        record = normalized(RECORD)
+
+        self.assertIn("Decision: **reject current package publication approval request**", record)
+        for field in REQUIRED_DECISION_FIELDS:
+            self.assertIn(field, record)
+        self.assertIn("Status: **pass for package publication approval decision with publication blocked**", record)
+        self.assertIn("Package publication remains blocked", record)
+        self.assertIn("Public installation remains blocked", record)
+        self.assertIn("No public installation wording was approved", record)
+        self.assertIn("No package publication version was selected", record)
+        self.assertIn("No package tag was created", record)
+        self.assertIn("No Cargo manifest was changed", record)
+        self.assertIn("No registry was created", record)
+        self.assertIn("No registry-backed assembly was activated", record)
+
+    def test_current_manifests_tags_and_registry_state_stay_unactivated(self) -> None:
+        packet = load_json(PREP)["package_publication_decision_input_packet"]
+        core_manifest = read(ROOT / "crates/ethos-core/Cargo.toml")
+        verify_manifest = read(ROOT / "crates/ethos-verify/Cargo.toml")
+        pdf_manifest = read(ROOT / "crates/ethos-pdf/Cargo.toml")
+
+        for value in packet["candidate_package_tag_names"]:
+            tag = value.split(": ", maxsplit=1)[1].split(";", maxsplit=1)[0]
+            self.assertEqual("", git("tag", "--list", tag))
+        self.assertIn('name = "ethos-core"', core_manifest)
+        self.assertIn("publish = false", core_manifest)
+        self.assertIn("publish = false", verify_manifest)
+        self.assertIn("publish = false", pdf_manifest)
+        self.assertNotIn('package = "ethos-doc-core"', verify_manifest)
+        self.assertNotIn('package = "ethos-doc-core"', pdf_manifest)
+        self.assertFalse((ROOT / ".cargo/config.toml").exists())
+        self.assertFalse((ROOT / "target/package-registry").exists())
+
+    def test_docs_reference_decision_and_retained_blockers(self) -> None:
+        for path in (PREP_SCOPE, ROADMAP, EXECUTION_STATUS, VALIDATION_README):
+            doc = normalized(path)
+
+            self.assertIn(RECORD.name, doc, str(path))
+            self.assertIn("approval decision", doc.lower(), str(path))
+            self.assertIn("package publication remains blocked", doc, str(path))
+            self.assertIn("public installation remains blocked", doc, str(path))
+
+    def test_make_and_ci_run_decision_after_template_before_readiness(self) -> None:
+        make_block = target_block("milestone-e-prep")
+        ci = read(CI_WORKFLOW)
+        template_guard = "test_milestone_e_package_publication_approval_decision_template.py"
+        decision_guard = "test_milestone_e_package_publication_approval_decision_record.py"
+        public_facing_guard = "test_milestone_e_public_facing_readiness_ledger.py"
+
+        for text, prefix in ((make_block, "$(PYTHON) .github/scripts/"), (ci, "python3 .github/scripts/")):
+            self.assertIn(prefix + decision_guard, text)
+            self.assertEqual(1, text.count(prefix + decision_guard))
+            self.assertLess(text.index(prefix + template_guard), text.index(prefix + decision_guard))
+            self.assertLess(text.index(prefix + decision_guard), text.index(prefix + public_facing_guard))
+
+    def test_record_avoids_scope_expansion_language_or_private_paths(self) -> None:
+        lower = normalized(RECORD).lower()
+        raw = read(RECORD)
+
+        for phrase in FORBIDDEN_SCOPE_EXPANSION:
+            self.assertNotIn(phrase, lower)
+        self.assertNotIn("/Users/", raw)
+        self.assertNotIn("/private/tmp", raw)
+        self.assertNotIn("/private/var", raw)
+        self.assertNotIn("/var/folders", raw)
+        self.assertNotIn("saumildiwaker", raw)
+        self.assertNotIn("Desktop/Stuff", raw)
+        self.assertNotIn("project/repo/ethos", raw)
+        self.assertNotIn("docs/.roadmap.md.swp", raw)
+        self.assertNotIn("web/", raw)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()
diff --git a/.github/scripts/test_milestone_e_package_publication_approval_prep.py b/.github/scripts/test_milestone_e_package_publication_approval_prep.py
index c066112..3b807d1 100644
--- a/.github/scripts/test_milestone_e_package_publication_approval_prep.py
+++ b/.github/scripts/test_milestone_e_package_publication_approval_prep.py
@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@
     "package_registry_assembly_evidence_review": "docs/validation/milestone-e-package-publication-registry-assembly-evidence-review-validation-2026-06-21.md",
     "package_public_installation_wording_review": "docs/validation/milestone-e-package-publication-public-installation-wording-review-validation-2026-06-21.md",
     "package_approval_decision_template": "docs/validation/milestone-e-package-publication-approval-decision-template-validation-2026-06-21.md",
+    "package_approval_decision_record": "docs/validation/milestone-e-package-publication-approval-decision-validation-2026-06-21.md",
 }
 EXPECTED_PUBLICATION_DECISION_INPUTS = {
     "decision_status": "not_approved_pending_exact_decision",
diff --git a/.github/scripts/test_milestone_e_prep_guard_sequence_index.py b/.github/scripts/test_milestone_e_prep_guard_sequence_index.py
index cd51f64..fcdfc97 100644
--- a/.github/scripts/test_milestone_e_prep_guard_sequence_index.py
+++ b/.github/scripts/test_milestone_e_prep_guard_sequence_index.py
@@ -113,6 +113,7 @@
     "$(PYTHON) .github/scripts/test_milestone_e_package_publication_registry_assembly_evidence_review.py",
     "$(PYTHON) .github/scripts/test_milestone_e_package_publication_public_installation_wording_review.py",
     "$(PYTHON) .github/scripts/test_milestone_e_package_publication_approval_decision_template.py",
+    "$(PYTHON) .github/scripts/test_milestone_e_package_publication_approval_decision_record.py",
     "$(PYTHON) .github/scripts/test_milestone_e_public_facing_readiness_ledger.py",
     "$(PYTHON) .github/scripts/test_milestone_e_public_beta_current_main_refresh_prep.py",
     "$(PYTHON) .github/scripts/test_milestone_e_public_beta_current_main_source_only_approval.py",
diff --git a/.github/scripts/test_milestone_e_prep_scope.py b/.github/scripts/test_milestone_e_prep_scope.py
index 9d660b6..36bcd36 100644
--- a/.github/scripts/test_milestone_e_prep_scope.py
+++ b/.github/scripts/test_milestone_e_prep_scope.py
@@ -412,6 +412,7 @@ def test_make_target_is_narrow_and_guarded(self) -> None:
     "$(PYTHON) .github/scripts/test_milestone_e_package_publication_registry_assembly_evidence_review.py",
     "$(PYTHON) .github/scripts/test_milestone_e_package_publication_public_installation_wording_review.py",
     "$(PYTHON) .github/scripts/test_milestone_e_package_publication_approval_decision_template.py",
+    "$(PYTHON) .github/scripts/test_milestone_e_package_publication_approval_decision_record.py",
     "$(PYTHON) .github/scripts/test_milestone_e_public_facing_readiness_ledger.py",
     "$(PYTHON) .github/scripts/test_milestone_e_public_beta_current_main_refresh_prep.py",
     "$(PYTHON) .github/scripts/test_milestone_e_public_beta_current_main_source_only_approval.py",
diff --git a/.github/scripts/test_milestone_e_validation_record_index.py b/.github/scripts/test_milestone_e_validation_record_index.py
index 52dad87..67db1fd 100644
--- a/.github/scripts/test_milestone_e_validation_record_index.py
+++ b/.github/scripts/test_milestone_e_validation_record_index.py
@@ -286,6 +286,10 @@ class RecordCoverage:
         "milestone-e-package-publication-approval-decision-template-validation-2026-06-21.md",
         "test_milestone_e_package_publication_approval_decision_template.py",
     ),
+    RecordCoverage(
+        "milestone-e-package-publication-approval-decision-validation-2026-06-21.md",
+        "test_milestone_e_package_publication_approval_decision_record.py",
+    ),
     RecordCoverage(
         "milestone-e-public-facing-readiness-ledger-validation-2026-06-21.md",
         "test_milestone_e_public_facing_readiness_ledger.py",
@@ -418,6 +422,9 @@ def test_index_guards_run_after_row_and_schema_records(self) -> None:
         package_approval_decision_template_guard = (
             "test_milestone_e_package_publication_approval_decision_template.py"
         )
+        package_approval_decision_record_guard = (
+            "test_milestone_e_package_publication_approval_decision_record.py"
+        )
         readiness_guard = "test_milestone_e_public_facing_readiness_ledger.py"
         beta_refresh_guard = "test_milestone_e_public_beta_current_main_refresh_prep.py"
         command_guard = "test_milestone_e_validation_command_index_validation_record.py"
@@ -506,6 +513,10 @@ def test_index_guards_run_after_row_and_schema_records(self) -> None:
             )
             self.assertLess(
                 text.index(prefix + package_approval_decision_template_guard),
+                text.index(prefix + package_approval_decision_record_guard),
+            )
+            self.assertLess(
+                text.index(prefix + package_approval_decision_record_guard),
                 text.index(prefix + readiness_guard),
             )
             self.assertLess(text.index(prefix + readiness_guard), text.index(prefix + beta_refresh_guard))
@@ -527,6 +538,14 @@ def test_index_guards_run_after_row_and_schema_records(self) -> None:
                 text.index(prefix + package_approval_decision_template_guard),
                 text.index(prefix + index_guard),
             )
+            self.assertLess(
+                text.index(prefix + package_approval_decision_record_guard),
+                text.index(prefix + command_guard),
+            )
+            self.assertLess(
+                text.index(prefix + package_approval_decision_record_guard),
+                text.index(prefix + index_guard),
+            )
             self.assertLess(
                 text.index(prefix + package_registry_evidence_review_guard),
                 text.index(prefix + command_guard),
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index b7dec13..d1e3349 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -240,6 +240,8 @@ jobs:
         run: python3 .github/scripts/test_milestone_e_package_publication_public_installation_wording_review.py
       - name: Milestone E package publication approval decision template tests
         run: python3 .github/scripts/test_milestone_e_package_publication_approval_decision_template.py
+      - name: Milestone E package publication approval decision record tests
+        run: python3 .github/scripts/test_milestone_e_package_publication_approval_decision_record.py
       - name: Milestone E public-facing readiness ledger tests
         run: python3 .github/scripts/test_milestone_e_public_facing_readiness_ledger.py
       - name: Milestone E public beta current-main refresh prep tests
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 33269ac..098aefd 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -227,6 +227,7 @@ milestone-e-prep:
 	$(PYTHON) .github/scripts/test_milestone_e_package_publication_registry_assembly_evidence_review.py
 	$(PYTHON) .github/scripts/test_milestone_e_package_publication_public_installation_wording_review.py
 	$(PYTHON) .github/scripts/test_milestone_e_package_publication_approval_decision_template.py
+	$(PYTHON) .github/scripts/test_milestone_e_package_publication_approval_decision_record.py
 	$(PYTHON) .github/scripts/test_milestone_e_public_facing_readiness_ledger.py
 	$(PYTHON) .github/scripts/test_milestone_e_public_beta_current_main_refresh_prep.py
 	$(PYTHON) .github/scripts/test_milestone_e_public_beta_current_main_source_only_approval.py
diff --git a/docs/execution-status.md b/docs/execution-status.md
index a04462c..01d146b 100644
--- a/docs/execution-status.md
+++ b/docs/execution-status.md
@@ -209,6 +209,8 @@ The package publication public installation wording review in `docs/validation/m
 
 The package publication approval decision template in `docs/validation/milestone-e-package-publication-approval-decision-template-validation-2026-06-21.md` records exact future decider inputs against source commit `66979cc` / tree `58ef15e1cac8ce7df35a7e88da2044e57eb66c10`. No decision is approved, package publication remains blocked, and public installation remains blocked.
 
+The package publication approval decision in `docs/validation/milestone-e-package-publication-approval-decision-validation-2026-06-21.md` rejects the current package-publication request against source commit `fdbd5b7` / tree `4a7bf5cda2c779e41a04c3feb691a12fec1e5c8d` because required activation evidence is absent. Package publication remains blocked, and public installation remains blocked.
+
 | Work item | Current status | Remaining blocker |
 | --- | --- | --- |
 | PDFium Phase 1 profile | Landed: pinned profile, V8/XFA-disabled state, platform hashes, runtime library hashes, and provenance are recorded | Phase 2 project-maintained builds still block Public Beta |
diff --git a/docs/milestone-e-package-publication-approval-prep.json b/docs/milestone-e-package-publication-approval-prep.json
index 6ddb84d..e2a155c 100644
--- a/docs/milestone-e-package-publication-approval-prep.json
+++ b/docs/milestone-e-package-publication-approval-prep.json
@@ -85,7 +85,8 @@
     "package_manifest_activation_diff_review": "docs/validation/milestone-e-package-publication-manifest-activation-diff-review-validation-2026-06-21.md",
     "package_registry_assembly_evidence_review": "docs/validation/milestone-e-package-publication-registry-assembly-evidence-review-validation-2026-06-21.md",
     "package_public_installation_wording_review": "docs/validation/milestone-e-package-publication-public-installation-wording-review-validation-2026-06-21.md",
-    "package_approval_decision_template": "docs/validation/milestone-e-package-publication-approval-decision-template-validation-2026-06-21.md"
+    "package_approval_decision_template": "docs/validation/milestone-e-package-publication-approval-decision-template-validation-2026-06-21.md",
+    "package_approval_decision_record": "docs/validation/milestone-e-package-publication-approval-decision-validation-2026-06-21.md"
   },
   "publication_approval_decision_inputs": {
     "decision_status": "not_approved_pending_exact_decision",
diff --git a/docs/milestone-e-prep-scope.md b/docs/milestone-e-prep-scope.md
index c0f4ffe..4ece04a 100644
--- a/docs/milestone-e-prep-scope.md
+++ b/docs/milestone-e-prep-scope.md
@@ -143,6 +143,11 @@ The package publication approval decision template is recorded in
 It records the exact future decider inputs required after the wording review for source commit
 `66979cc` / tree `58ef15e1cac8ce7df35a7e88da2044e57eb66c10` while no decision is approved,
 package publication remains blocked, and public installation remains blocked.
+The package publication approval decision is recorded in
+`docs/validation/milestone-e-package-publication-approval-decision-validation-2026-06-21.md`.
+It rejects the current package-publication request for source commit `fdbd5b7` / tree
+`4a7bf5cda2c779e41a04c3feb691a12fec1e5c8d` because required activation evidence is absent;
+package publication remains blocked, and public installation remains blocked.
 The metadata-readiness follow-up record under `docs/validation/` covers README, NOTICE, manifest
 metadata, and include-list readiness for `ethos-core`, `ethos-verify`, and `ethos-pdf` only.
 `ethos-doc` and `ethos-rag` remain reserved placeholders without in-tree package manifests, and
diff --git a/docs/roadmap.md b/docs/roadmap.md
index 7b5975d..911f24c 100644
--- a/docs/roadmap.md
+++ b/docs/roadmap.md
@@ -195,6 +195,11 @@ The package publication approval decision template is recorded in
 for source commit `66979cc` / tree `58ef15e1cac8ce7df35a7e88da2044e57eb66c10`. The template
 lists the exact future decider inputs required after the wording review while package publication
 remains blocked and public installation remains blocked.
+The package publication approval decision is recorded in
+[`docs/validation/milestone-e-package-publication-approval-decision-validation-2026-06-21.md`](validation/milestone-e-package-publication-approval-decision-validation-2026-06-21.md)
+for source commit `fdbd5b7` / tree `4a7bf5cda2c779e41a04c3feb691a12fec1e5c8d`. The current
+package-publication request is rejected because required activation evidence is absent; package
+publication remains blocked and public installation remains blocked.
 This prep only identifies tracked trust-loop fixture candidates and guard wiring for internal
 continuation; blocked-output alignment keeps the current trust-loop protocol, rehearsal/evidence
 matrix, blocker ledger, and matching schemas on the same explicit blockers, while evidence-lane
diff --git a/docs/validation/README.md b/docs/validation/README.md
index e9e47f9..170bcea 100644
--- a/docs/validation/README.md
+++ b/docs/validation/README.md
@@ -366,6 +366,11 @@ recording the exact current-main source candidate and required follow-up evidenc
   record binds the not-approved template to source commit `66979cc` / tree
   `58ef15e1cac8ce7df35a7e88da2044e57eb66c10` while package publication remains blocked and
   public installation remains blocked.
+- `milestone-e-package-publication-approval-decision-validation-2026-06-21.md` -
+  package publication approval decision validation for the current package-publication request; the
+  record binds the rejected decision to source commit `fdbd5b7` / tree
+  `4a7bf5cda2c779e41a04c3feb691a12fec1e5c8d` while package publication remains blocked and
+  public installation remains blocked.
 - `milestone-e-public-facing-readiness-ledger-validation-2026-06-21.md` - public-facing readiness
   ledger validation recorded `docs/milestone-e-public-facing-readiness-ledger.json` as a
   current-main refresh candidate and package-publication gap-retention artifact; current main
diff --git a/docs/validation/milestone-e-package-publication-approval-decision-validation-2026-06-21.md b/docs/validation/milestone-e-package-publication-approval-decision-validation-2026-06-21.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..48cc2e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/validation/milestone-e-package-publication-approval-decision-validation-2026-06-21.md
@@ -0,0 +1,137 @@
+# Milestone E Package Publication Approval Decision Validation - 2026-06-21
+
+## Purpose
+
+Record the package publication approval decision for the current package-publication request after
+the approval decision template.
+
+This decision record rejects package publication approval for the current source state because the
+required activation evidence is still absent. It does not approve package publication, public
+installation, package dependency manifest activation, registry-backed dependent package assembly
+activation, package tag creation, or package publication version selection.
+
+## Status
+
+Status: **pass for package publication approval decision with publication blocked**.
+
+Decision: **reject current package publication approval request**.
+
+Ethos remains source-only pre-alpha outside the approved GitHub source-repository public beta
+surface. Package publication remains blocked. Public installation remains blocked.
+
+## Subject
+
+- Repository: `docushell/ethos`
+- Validated source HEAD before this record: `fdbd5b7`
+- Approval decision source commit: `fdbd5b7e1817ab73d459f25faadc2132263d88ff`
+- Approval decision source tree: `4a7bf5cda2c779e41a04c3feb691a12fec1e5c8d`
+- Lane: package publication
+- Template record:
+  `docs/validation/milestone-e-package-publication-approval-decision-template-validation-2026-06-21.md`
+- Approval owner: docushell-admin acting as decider
+
+## Exact Decision Fields
+
+- Decision: reject current package publication approval request.
+- Approver: docushell-admin acting as decider.
+- Date: 2026-06-21.
+- Exact candidate crate list reviewed for this decision: `ethos-doc-core`, `ethos-verify`, and
+  `ethos-pdf` only.
+- Exact package version map approved by this decision: none; candidate `0.1.0` remains unapproved.
+- Exact package tag name set approved by this decision: none; candidate package tags remain
+  uncreated and unapproved.
+- Exact package tag source commit and source tree approved by this decision: none.
+- Exact package-name migration diff for `ethos-doc-core` approved by this decision: none; current
+  Cargo manifests remain unchanged.
+- Exact dependency manifest activation diff for `ethos-verify` and `ethos-pdf` approved by this
+  decision: none; current Cargo manifests remain unchanged.
+- Exact registry-backed dependent package assembly evidence after manifest activation: absent; no
+  registry is created and no registry-backed assembly is activated.
+- Exact public installation wording approved by this decision: none; public installation wording
+  remains blocked.
+- Public-surface posture check result after this decision: passed with no public installation
+  wording approval.
+- Claims gate result after this decision: passed with package publication blocked.
+- Milestone E prep result after this decision record: required for this record branch.
+
+## Reviewed Candidate Inputs
+
+- Candidate crate surface reviewed: `ethos-doc-core`, `ethos-verify`, and `ethos-pdf`.
+- `ethos-doc` and `ethos-rag` remain excluded.
+- Candidate version map reviewed: `0.1.0` for `ethos-doc-core`, `ethos-verify`, and `ethos-pdf`;
+  not selected or approved.
+- Candidate package tag names reviewed: `ethos-package-ethos-doc-core-0.1.0`,
+  `ethos-package-ethos-verify-0.1.0`, and `ethos-package-ethos-pdf-0.1.0`; not created or
+  approved.
+- Candidate manifest activation diff reviewed; current Cargo manifests remain unchanged.
+- Registry-backed dependent package assembly evidence requirements reviewed; no registry is
+  created and no assembly is activated.
+- Candidate public installation wording reviewed; no wording is approved.
+
+## Explicit Exclusions
+
+- Package publication remains blocked.
+- Public installation remains blocked.
+- Real-version cargo publish remains blocked.
+- Package tag creation remains blocked.
+- Package dependency manifest activation remains blocked.
+- Registry-backed dependent package assembly activation remains blocked.
+- Release artifacts remain blocked.
+- Binaries remain blocked.
+- Wheels remain blocked.
+- npm packages remain blocked.
+- Hosted surfaces remain blocked.
+- Production positioning remains blocked.
+- Public benchmark reports remain blocked.
+- Public benchmark claims remain blocked.
+- Project-maintained PDFium builds remain blocked.
+- `ethos-doc` remains excluded.
+- `ethos-rag` remains excluded.
+- Broader public wording remains blocked.
+- Public reports remain blocked.
+- Public result wording remains blocked.
+- Performance claims remain blocked.
+- Quality claims remain blocked.
+- Footprint claims remain blocked.
+- Table-quality claims remain blocked.
+- Parser-quality claims remain blocked.
+
+## Required Before A Future Approval Request
+
+- Select an exact package version map for the candidate crates.
+- Select exact package tag names and source binding.
+- Prepare and review exact package-name migration and dependency manifest activation diffs.
+- Produce registry-backed dependent package assembly evidence after manifest activation.
+- Approve exact public installation wording and explicit exclusions.
+- Run public-surface posture and claims gates after exact wording changes.
+- Run Milestone E prep after the exact decision record.
+
+## Commands
+
+```sh
+python3 .github/scripts/test_milestone_e_package_publication_approval_decision_record.py
+python3 .github/scripts/test_milestone_e_package_publication_approval_prep.py
+python3 .github/scripts/test_milestone_e_package_publication_approval_decision_template.py
+python3 .github/scripts/test_public_surface_posture.py
+python3 .github/scripts/claims_gate.py
+cargo build --locked -p ethos-cli
+make milestone-e-prep PYTHON=<jsonschema-venv>/bin/python
+git diff --check
+```
+
+## Result
+
+```text
+Package publication approval decision validation passed
+Current package publication approval request was rejected for this source state
+No package publication version was selected
+No package tag was created
+No Cargo manifest was changed
+No registry was created
+No registry-backed assembly was activated
+No public installation wording was approved
+Package publication and public installation remained blocked
+Public-surface posture and claims gates passed
+Milestone E prep target passed
+git diff --check passed
+```
diff --git a/schemas/ethos-milestone-e-package-publication-approval-prep.schema.json b/schemas/ethos-milestone-e-package-publication-approval-prep.schema.json
index f4d39a1..6b7cb2f 100644
--- a/schemas/ethos-milestone-e-package-publication-approval-prep.schema.json
+++ b/schemas/ethos-milestone-e-package-publication-approval-prep.schema.json
@@ -293,7 +293,8 @@
         "package_manifest_activation_diff_review",
         "package_registry_assembly_evidence_review",
         "package_public_installation_wording_review",
-        "package_approval_decision_template"
+        "package_approval_decision_template",
+        "package_approval_decision_record"
       ],
       "additionalProperties": false,
       "properties": {
@@ -353,6 +354,9 @@
         },
         "package_approval_decision_template": {
           "const": "docs/validation/milestone-e-package-publication-approval-decision-template-validation-2026-06-21.md"
+        },
+        "package_approval_decision_record": {
+          "const": "docs/validation/milestone-e-package-publication-approval-decision-validation-2026-06-21.md"
         }
       }
     },