diff --git a/lib/acl/conformance.conf b/lib/acl/conformance.conf
index 229fe970..f39964a0 100644
--- a/lib/acl/conformance.conf
+++ b/lib/acl/conformance.conf
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ PRELOADS=(
   lib/acl/engine.sx
   lib/acl/explain.sx
   lib/acl/audit.sx
+  lib/acl/federation.sx
   lib/acl/api.sx
 )
 
@@ -26,4 +27,5 @@ SUITES=(
   "direct:lib/acl/tests/direct.sx:(acl-direct-tests-run!)"
   "inherit:lib/acl/tests/inherit.sx:(acl-inherit-tests-run!)"
   "explain:lib/acl/tests/explain.sx:(acl-explain-tests-run!)"
+  "fed:lib/acl/tests/fed.sx:(acl-fed-tests-run!)"
 )
diff --git a/lib/acl/engine.sx b/lib/acl/engine.sx
index a0925d1f..77efd55a 100644
--- a/lib/acl/engine.sx
+++ b/lib/acl/engine.sx
@@ -4,12 +4,14 @@
 ;; reduces a (subject, action, resource) decision to a Datalog query against a
 ;; db built from EDB facts. The rule engine itself is Datalog's.
 ;;
-;; Policy — inheritance with deny-overrides:
+;; Policy — inheritance + federation with deny-overrides:
 ;;
 ;;   eff_grant(S,A,R) :- grant(S,A,R).                         ; direct
 ;;   eff_grant(S,A,R) :- member_of(S,G), eff_grant(G,A,R).     ; group/role chain
 ;;   eff_grant(S,A,R) :- child_of(R,P), eff_grant(S,A,P).      ; resource tree
 ;;   eff_grant(S,A,R) :- member_of(S,Role), role_grant(Role,A,R). ; role expansion
+;;   eff_grant(S,A,R) :- delegate(Peer,S,A,R),                 ; federated grant
+;;                       trust(Peer,L), level_covers(L,A).
 ;;
 ;;   eff_deny(S,A,R)  :- deny(S,A,R).                          ; direct
 ;;   eff_deny(S,A,R)  :- member_of(S,G), eff_deny(G,A,R).      ; group chain
@@ -18,15 +20,22 @@
 ;;   permit(S,A,R)    :- eff_grant(S,A,R), not eff_deny(S,A,R).
 ;;
 ;; DENY-OVERRIDES: an effective deny anywhere in the inheritance closure of
-;; (S,A,R) defeats any effective grant. Deny inherits through the *same* group
-;; and resource chains as grant, so a group-level or ancestor-resource deny is
-;; authoritative for members/descendants — not just a deny naming the exact
-;; (S,A,R). This is the principled, fail-safe reading of "deny wins".
+;; (S,A,R) defeats any effective grant — including federated grants. Deny
+;; inherits through the *same* group and resource chains as grant, so a
+;; group-level or ancestor-resource deny is authoritative for members/
+;; descendants. This is the principled, fail-safe reading of "deny wins".
+;;
+;; FEDERATION — non-transitive trust: a peer's `delegate` fact only grants if a
+;; *local* `trust(Peer, L)` exists AND that level `level_covers` the action.
+;; Trust is re-checked on every query (it is a body literal), never baked in at
+;; fact-ingestion time, so revoking trust or narrowing a level takes effect
+;; immediately on the next decision.
 ;;
 ;; Termination & stratification:
 ;;   - eff_grant/eff_deny recurse only over member_of and child_of, which are
 ;;     EDB relations with no function symbols, so the closure is finite (cyclic
-;;     membership/containment just reaches a fixpoint, never loops).
+;;     membership/containment just reaches a fixpoint, never loops). The
+;;     federation rule is non-recursive.
 ;;   - permit negates eff_deny; neither eff_grant nor eff_deny depends on
 ;;     permit, so the program is stratifiable (permit sits in a higher stratum).
 
@@ -37,6 +46,14 @@
       (eff_grant S A R <- (member_of S G) (eff_grant G A R))
       (eff_grant S A R <- (child_of R P) (eff_grant S A P))
       (eff_grant S A R <- (member_of S Role) (role_grant Role A R))
+      (eff_grant
+        S
+        A
+        R
+        <-
+        (delegate Peer S A R)
+        (trust Peer L)
+        (level_covers L A))
       (eff_deny S A R <- (deny S A R))
       (eff_deny S A R <- (member_of S G) (eff_deny G A R))
       (eff_deny S A R <- (child_of R P) (eff_deny S A P))
diff --git a/lib/acl/facts.sx b/lib/acl/facts.sx
index 0e07e124..3b6ed468 100644
--- a/lib/acl/facts.sx
+++ b/lib/acl/facts.sx
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 ;;   Phase 1: actor/resource/grant/deny.
 ;;   Phase 2: member_of (subject -> group/role), child_of (resource -> parent),
 ;;            role_grant (role -> action,resource capability).
+;;   Phase 4: peer/trust/delegate/level_covers (federation).
 
 (define acl-actor (fn (id kind) (list (quote actor) id kind)))
 
@@ -25,3 +26,22 @@
 (define
   acl-role-grant
   (fn (role act res) (list (quote role_grant) role act res)))
+
+;; --- federation ---
+
+;; a known peer instance at addr, of some kind (e.g. peer).
+(define acl-peer (fn (addr kind) (list (quote peer) addr kind)))
+
+;; local trust in a peer at a named level. Gates delegated grants at query time.
+(define acl-trust (fn (peer level) (list (quote trust) peer level)))
+
+;; a peer asserts that subject S may A on R. Only takes effect if local trust in
+;; that peer covers action A (see level_covers).
+(define
+  acl-delegate
+  (fn (peer subj act res) (list (quote delegate) peer subj act res)))
+
+;; local policy: trust `level` authorises delegated grants for action `act`.
+(define
+  acl-level-covers
+  (fn (level act) (list (quote level_covers) level act)))
diff --git a/lib/acl/federation.sx b/lib/acl/federation.sx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..68a59151
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/acl/federation.sx
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+;; lib/acl/federation.sx — cross-instance ACL facts + revocation.
+;;
+;; fed-sx replicates ACL facts between instances; this module models the local
+;; side. A peer's authority arrives as `delegate(Peer, S, A, R)` facts, which
+;; only take effect when a local `trust(Peer, L)` and `level_covers(L, A)`
+;; authorise them (enforced by the engine rule, re-checked every query). The
+;; actual network transport is fed-sx's job and is mocked in tests as a dict.
+;;
+;; Trust is NOT transitive: trusting peer α does not extend to peers α trusts.
+;; Only delegate facts that α itself asserts, and that local trust covers, flow.
+
+;; Mock fed-sx pull: `transport` is a dict mapping a peer address (its string
+;; name) to the list of delegate facts that peer asserts. Returns the facts for
+;; `addr`, or an empty list if the peer is unknown / unreachable.
+(define
+  acl-fed-fetch
+  (fn
+    (transport addr)
+    (let
+      ((k (if (symbol? addr) (symbol->string addr) addr)))
+      (if (has-key? transport k) (get transport k) (list)))))
+
+;; Gather delegate facts from every peer in `addrs` via the transport.
+(define
+  acl-fed-collect
+  (fn
+    (transport addrs)
+    (let
+      ((acc (list)))
+      (do
+        (for-each
+          (fn
+            (addr)
+            (for-each
+              (fn (f) (append! acc f))
+              (acl-fed-fetch transport addr)))
+          addrs)
+        acc))))
+
+;; Build a db from local facts plus delegate facts pulled from `peers`. Local
+;; facts must include the `trust`/`level_covers` policy; replicated delegate
+;; facts are gated against it by the engine rule at query time.
+(define
+  acl-fed-build-db
+  (fn
+    (local-facts transport peers)
+    (let
+      ((all (list)))
+      (do
+        (for-each (fn (f) (append! all f)) local-facts)
+        (for-each
+          (fn (f) (append! all f))
+          (acl-fed-collect transport peers))
+        (acl-build-db all)))))
+
+;; Propagated revocation: retract a replicated fact (e.g. a peer's delegate, or
+;; local trust) from a live db. The next decision re-saturates and reflects it.
+(define acl-revoke! (fn (db fact) (do (dl-retract! db fact) db)))
+
+;; Propagated assertion: ingest a newly replicated fact into a live db.
+(define acl-fed-assert! (fn (db fact) (do (dl-assert! db fact) db)))
diff --git a/lib/acl/schema.sx b/lib/acl/schema.sx
index 3fc1c310..04beac45 100644
--- a/lib/acl/schema.sx
+++ b/lib/acl/schema.sx
@@ -16,7 +16,9 @@
 ;;   Phase 1: actor/resource/grant/deny.
 ;;   Phase 2: member_of (subject->group/role), child_of (resource->parent),
 ;;            role_grant (role->action,resource).
-(define acl-edb-arity {:role_grant 3 :child_of 2 :actor 2 :member_of 2 :deny 3 :grant 3 :resource 2})
+;;   Phase 4: peer (addr->kind), trust (peer->level),
+;;            delegate (peer->subj,action,resource), level_covers (level->action).
+(define acl-edb-arity {:role_grant 3 :child_of 2 :trust 2 :peer 2 :actor 2 :level_covers 2 :delegate 4 :member_of 2 :deny 3 :grant 3 :resource 2})
 
 (define
   acl-member?
diff --git a/lib/acl/scoreboard.json b/lib/acl/scoreboard.json
index 96c70d5b..a93ecedc 100644
--- a/lib/acl/scoreboard.json
+++ b/lib/acl/scoreboard.json
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
 {
   "lang": "acl",
-  "total_passed": 89,
+  "total_passed": 120,
   "total_failed": 0,
-  "total": 89,
+  "total": 120,
   "suites": [
     {"name":"direct","passed":24,"failed":0,"total":24},
     {"name":"inherit","passed":30,"failed":0,"total":30},
-    {"name":"explain","passed":35,"failed":0,"total":35}
+    {"name":"explain","passed":35,"failed":0,"total":35},
+    {"name":"fed","passed":31,"failed":0,"total":31}
   ],
-  "generated": "2026-06-06T16:46:37+00:00"
+  "generated": "2026-06-06T16:53:44+00:00"
 }
diff --git a/lib/acl/scoreboard.md b/lib/acl/scoreboard.md
index 70299462..88e69e18 100644
--- a/lib/acl/scoreboard.md
+++ b/lib/acl/scoreboard.md
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 # acl scoreboard
 
-**89 / 89 passing** (0 failure(s)).
+**120 / 120 passing** (0 failure(s)).
 
 | Suite | Passed | Total | Status |
 |-------|--------|-------|--------|
 | direct | 24 | 24 | ok |
 | inherit | 30 | 30 | ok |
 | explain | 35 | 35 | ok |
+| fed | 31 | 31 | ok |
diff --git a/lib/acl/tests/fed.sx b/lib/acl/tests/fed.sx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5be69958
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/acl/tests/fed.sx
@@ -0,0 +1,273 @@
+;; lib/acl/tests/fed.sx — Phase 4: federation (peer trust, delegation,
+;; cross-instance chains, revocation). fed-sx transport is mocked as a dict.
+
+(define acl-ft-pass 0)
+(define acl-ft-fail 0)
+(define acl-ft-failures (list))
+
+;; Name-based deep equality (host `=` compares symbols by unstable interned
+;; identity; see lib/acl/tests/explain.sx).
+(define
+  acl-ft-eq?
+  (fn
+    (a b)
+    (cond
+      ((and (list? a) (list? b))
+        (and (= (len a) (len b)) (acl-ft-eq-l? a b 0)))
+      ((and (symbol? a) (symbol? b))
+        (= (symbol->string a) (symbol->string b)))
+      (else (= a b)))))
+(define
+  acl-ft-eq-l?
+  (fn
+    (a b i)
+    (cond
+      ((>= i (len a)) true)
+      ((not (acl-ft-eq? (nth a i) (nth b i))) false)
+      (else (acl-ft-eq-l? a b (+ i 1))))))
+
+(define
+  acl-ft-check!
+  (fn
+    (name got expected)
+    (if
+      (acl-ft-eq? got expected)
+      (set! acl-ft-pass (+ acl-ft-pass 1))
+      (do
+        (set! acl-ft-fail (+ acl-ft-fail 1))
+        (append!
+          acl-ft-failures
+          (str name "\n    expected: " expected "\n    got:      " got))))))
+
+;; proof leaf walker (federated proofs reconstruct through the engine rule).
+(define
+  acl-ft-has-leaf?
+  (fn
+    (node target)
+    (cond
+      ((= node nil) false)
+      ((and (dict? node) (has-key? node :via))
+        (acl-ft-eq? (get node :fact) target))
+      ((and (dict? node) (has-key? node :body))
+        (acl-ft-any-leaf? (get node :body) target))
+      (else false))))
+(define
+  acl-ft-any-leaf?
+  (fn
+    (nodes target)
+    (cond
+      ((= (len nodes) 0) false)
+      ((acl-ft-has-leaf? (first nodes) target) true)
+      (else (acl-ft-any-leaf? (rest nodes) target)))))
+
+(define acl-ft-p? (fn (db s a r) (acl-permit? db s a r)))
+
+;; A standard federation fixture: local trusts peer alpha at "readonly", which
+;; covers read+comment. alpha delegates several capabilities to alice.
+(define
+  acl-ft-fixture
+  (fn
+    ()
+    (acl-build-db
+      (list
+        (acl-trust (quote alpha) (quote readonly))
+        (acl-level-covers (quote readonly) (quote read))
+        (acl-level-covers (quote readonly) (quote comment))
+        (acl-delegate (quote alpha) (quote alice) (quote read) (quote doc))
+        (acl-delegate (quote alpha) (quote alice) (quote edit) (quote doc))))))
+
+(define
+  acl-ft-run-all!
+  (fn
+    ()
+    (do
+      (let
+        ((db (acl-ft-fixture)))
+        (do
+          (acl-ft-check!
+            "trusted delegate, level covers action -> permit"
+            (acl-ft-p? db (quote alice) (quote read) (quote doc))
+            true)
+          (acl-ft-check!
+            "trusted delegate, level does NOT cover action -> deny"
+            (acl-ft-p? db (quote alice) (quote edit) (quote doc))
+            false)
+          (acl-ft-check!
+            "delegated but action class uncovered (comment has no delegate)"
+            (acl-ft-p? db (quote alice) (quote comment) (quote doc))
+            false)))
+      (let
+        ((db (acl-build-db (list (acl-level-covers (quote readonly) (quote read)) (acl-delegate (quote beta) (quote bob) (quote read) (quote doc))))))
+        (acl-ft-check!
+          "untrusted peer delegate -> deny"
+          (acl-ft-p? db (quote bob) (quote read) (quote doc))
+          false))
+      (let
+        ((db (acl-build-db (list (acl-trust (quote alpha) (quote readonly)) (acl-delegate (quote alpha) (quote alice) (quote read) (quote doc))))))
+        (acl-ft-check!
+          "trust but no level_covers -> deny"
+          (acl-ft-p? db (quote alice) (quote read) (quote doc))
+          false))
+      (let
+        ((db (acl-build-db (list (acl-trust (quote alpha) (quote full)) (acl-level-covers (quote full) (quote read)) (acl-delegate (quote alpha) (quote alice) (quote read) (quote doc)) (acl-delegate (quote beta) (quote bob) (quote read) (quote doc))))))
+        (do
+          (acl-ft-check!
+            "trust is per-peer: alpha's delegate applies"
+            (acl-ft-p? db (quote alice) (quote read) (quote doc))
+            true)
+          (acl-ft-check!
+            "trust not transitive: beta's delegate does not apply"
+            (acl-ft-p? db (quote bob) (quote read) (quote doc))
+            false)))
+      (let
+        ((db (acl-build-db (list (acl-trust (quote alpha) (quote full)) (acl-level-covers (quote full) (quote read)) (acl-delegate (quote alpha) (quote alice) (quote read) (quote doc)) (acl-deny (quote alice) (quote read) (quote doc))))))
+        (acl-ft-check!
+          "local deny overrides federated grant"
+          (acl-ft-p? db (quote alice) (quote read) (quote doc))
+          false))
+      (let
+        ((db (acl-build-db (list (acl-trust (quote alpha) (quote full)) (acl-level-covers (quote full) (quote read)) (acl-member-of (quote alice) (quote team)) (acl-delegate (quote alpha) (quote team) (quote read) (quote doc))))))
+        (acl-ft-check!
+          "federated grant to group reaches member"
+          (acl-ft-p? db (quote alice) (quote read) (quote doc))
+          true))
+      (let
+        ((db (acl-build-db (list (acl-trust (quote alpha) (quote full)) (acl-level-covers (quote full) (quote read)) (acl-child-of (quote sec) (quote book)) (acl-delegate (quote alpha) (quote u) (quote read) (quote book))))))
+        (acl-ft-check!
+          "federated grant on parent resource reaches child"
+          (acl-ft-p? db (quote u) (quote read) (quote sec))
+          true))
+      (let
+        ((transport {:gamma (list (acl-delegate (quote gamma) (quote carol) (quote read) (quote post))) :alpha (list (acl-delegate (quote alpha) (quote alice) (quote read) (quote doc)))}))
+        (do
+          (acl-ft-check!
+            "fetch known peer returns its delegates"
+            (len (acl-fed-fetch transport (quote alpha)))
+            1)
+          (acl-ft-check!
+            "fetch unknown peer returns empty"
+            (len (acl-fed-fetch transport (quote delta)))
+            0)
+          (acl-ft-check!
+            "collect across peers"
+            (len
+              (acl-fed-collect transport (list (quote alpha) (quote gamma))))
+            2)
+          (let
+            ((db (acl-fed-build-db (list (acl-trust (quote alpha) (quote readonly)) (acl-trust (quote gamma) (quote readonly)) (acl-level-covers (quote readonly) (quote read))) transport (list (quote alpha) (quote gamma)))))
+            (do
+              (acl-ft-check!
+                "fed-build-db: alpha delegate permits"
+                (acl-ft-p? db (quote alice) (quote read) (quote doc))
+                true)
+              (acl-ft-check!
+                "fed-build-db: gamma delegate permits"
+                (acl-ft-p? db (quote carol) (quote read) (quote post))
+                true)
+              (acl-ft-check!
+                "fed-build-db: untrusted action still denied"
+                (acl-ft-p? db (quote alice) (quote edit) (quote doc))
+                false)))))
+      (let
+        ((db (acl-build-db (list (acl-trust (quote alpha) (quote full)) (acl-level-covers (quote full) (quote read)) (acl-delegate (quote alpha) (quote alice) (quote read) (quote doc))))))
+        (do
+          (acl-ft-check!
+            "before revoke: permitted"
+            (acl-ft-p? db (quote alice) (quote read) (quote doc))
+            true)
+          (acl-revoke!
+            db
+            (acl-delegate
+              (quote alpha)
+              (quote alice)
+              (quote read)
+              (quote doc)))
+          (acl-ft-check!
+            "after delegate revoked: denied"
+            (acl-ft-p? db (quote alice) (quote read) (quote doc))
+            false)))
+      (let
+        ((db (acl-build-db (list (acl-trust (quote alpha) (quote full)) (acl-level-covers (quote full) (quote read)) (acl-delegate (quote alpha) (quote alice) (quote read) (quote doc))))))
+        (do
+          (acl-ft-check!
+            "before trust revoke: permitted"
+            (acl-ft-p? db (quote alice) (quote read) (quote doc))
+            true)
+          (acl-revoke! db (acl-trust (quote alpha) (quote full)))
+          (acl-ft-check!
+            "after trust revoked: denied"
+            (acl-ft-p? db (quote alice) (quote read) (quote doc))
+            false)))
+      (let
+        ((db (acl-build-db (list (acl-level-covers (quote full) (quote read)) (acl-delegate (quote alpha) (quote alice) (quote read) (quote doc))))))
+        (do
+          (acl-ft-check!
+            "delegate without trust: denied"
+            (acl-ft-p? db (quote alice) (quote read) (quote doc))
+            false)
+          (acl-fed-assert! db (acl-trust (quote alpha) (quote full)))
+          (acl-ft-check!
+            "trust ingested then re-checked: permitted"
+            (acl-ft-p? db (quote alice) (quote read) (quote doc))
+            true)))
+      (let
+        ((db (acl-ft-fixture)))
+        (let
+          ((e (acl-explain db (quote alice) (quote read) (quote doc))))
+          (do
+            (acl-ft-check! "federated proof allowed?" (get e :allowed?) true)
+            (acl-ft-check!
+              "federated proof has delegate leaf"
+              (acl-ft-has-leaf?
+                (get e :proof)
+                (list
+                  (quote delegate)
+                  (quote alpha)
+                  (quote alice)
+                  (quote read)
+                  (quote doc)))
+              true)
+            (acl-ft-check!
+              "federated proof has trust leaf"
+              (acl-ft-has-leaf?
+                (get e :proof)
+                (list (quote trust) (quote alpha) (quote readonly)))
+              true)
+            (acl-ft-check!
+              "federated proof has level_covers leaf"
+              (acl-ft-has-leaf?
+                (get e :proof)
+                (list (quote level_covers) (quote readonly) (quote read)))
+              true))))
+      (acl-ft-check!
+        "schema delegate arity valid"
+        (acl-fact-valid?
+          (acl-delegate (quote p) (quote s) (quote a) (quote r)))
+        true)
+      (acl-ft-check!
+        "schema trust arity valid"
+        (acl-fact-valid? (acl-trust (quote p) (quote l)))
+        true)
+      (acl-ft-check!
+        "schema peer arity valid"
+        (acl-fact-valid? (acl-peer (quote p) (quote peer)))
+        true)
+      (acl-ft-check!
+        "schema level_covers arity valid"
+        (acl-fact-valid? (acl-level-covers (quote l) (quote read)))
+        true)
+      (acl-ft-check!
+        "schema delegate bad arity invalid"
+        (acl-fact-valid? (list (quote delegate) (quote p) (quote s)))
+        false))))
+
+(define
+  acl-fed-tests-run!
+  (fn
+    ()
+    (do
+      (set! acl-ft-pass 0)
+      (set! acl-ft-fail 0)
+      (set! acl-ft-failures (list))
+      (acl-ft-run-all!)
+      {:failures acl-ft-failures :total (+ acl-ft-pass acl-ft-fail) :passed acl-ft-pass :failed acl-ft-fail})))
diff --git a/plans/acl-on-sx.md b/plans/acl-on-sx.md
index 4ee50474..ab303381 100644
--- a/plans/acl-on-sx.md
+++ b/plans/acl-on-sx.md
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ and federation extension. Reuses `lib/datalog/` evaluator and term model where p
 
 ## Status (rolling)
 
-`bash lib/acl/conformance.sh` → **89/89** (Phases 1-3 complete)
+`bash lib/acl/conformance.sh` → **120/120** (all four phases complete)
 
 ## Ground rules
 
@@ -122,11 +122,33 @@ pure.
 
 ## Phase 4 — Federation
 
-- [ ] peer trust facts — `peer(addr, kind)`, `trust(peer, level)`
-- [ ] delegated grants — `delegate(peer, actor, action, resource)`
-- [ ] cross-instance permit chain — query asks local + queries trusted peers via fed-sx
-- [ ] revocation propagation — fact retraction across federation
-- [ ] `lib/acl/tests/fed.sx` — federated grant chains (mock fed-sx transport in tests)
+- [x] peer trust facts — `peer(addr, kind)`, `trust(peer, level)`
+- [x] delegated grants — `delegate(peer, actor, action, resource)`
+- [x] cross-instance permit chain — query asks local + queries trusted peers via fed-sx
+- [x] revocation propagation — fact retraction across federation
+- [x] `lib/acl/tests/fed.sx` — federated grant chains (mock fed-sx transport in tests)
+
+### federation policy (the choice)
+
+One engine rule carries federation:
+`eff_grant(S,A,R) :- delegate(Peer,S,A,R), trust(Peer,L), level_covers(L,A)`.
+
+- **Non-transitive trust.** A peer's `delegate` only grants if a *local*
+  `trust(Peer,L)` exists and that level `level_covers` the action. There is no
+  peer-to-peer trust propagation — trusting α never extends to peers α trusts.
+- **Trust re-checked every query.** `trust`/`level_covers` are body literals
+  evaluated at decision time, never baked in at ingestion. Revoking trust or
+  narrowing a level takes effect on the next `acl-permit?`.
+- **Deny still wins.** Federated grants are `eff_grant`, so local (and inherited)
+  deny overrides them exactly as for local grants.
+- **Composes with inheritance.** A delegate to a group flows to members; a
+  delegate on a parent resource flows to children (federated `eff_grant` feeds
+  the same recursion).
+- **Revocation = retraction.** `acl-revoke!` wraps `dl-retract!`; the next query
+  re-saturates. `acl-fed-assert!` wraps `dl-assert!` for newly-replicated facts.
+- **Transport is fed-sx's job.** `lib/acl/federation.sx` mocks the pull as a
+  dict {peer-addr → delegate-facts}; `acl-fed-build-db` merges local policy +
+  pulled delegates.
 
 ## Progress log
 
@@ -177,6 +199,25 @@ pure.
     name-based `acl-et-eq?` (compare symbols via `symbol->string`), matching the
     datalog suite's `dl-api-deep=?` convention. Worth flagging to the kernel
     owners but out of acl scope.
+- **Phase 4 complete (120/120, +31 fed).** Added `federation.sx` (mock
+  transport + `acl-fed-build-db`/`acl-revoke!`/`acl-fed-assert!`), one engine
+  rule (the trust-gated delegate rule), 4 fact constructors, 4 schema arities.
+  Federated proofs reconstruct for free — `explain.sx` iterates `acl-rules`, so
+  the delegate rule's EDB body (`delegate`/`trust`/`level_covers`) shows up as
+  proof leaves with no explain changes. **Roadmap done: all four phases green.**
+  - **Shared-plumbing final note (for `lib/guest/rules/`):** the durable
+    reusable seam across acl-sx and the coming mod-sx is exactly four
+    pass-throughs to the rule engine — `build-db(facts)`, `decide(ground-query)
+    -> bool`, `explain(goal) -> proof-tree`, and the revoke/assert mutators.
+    The *rulesets* and *vocabulary* are language-specific (ACL: grant/deny/
+    member_of/...; mod-sx: Prolog moderation predicates). When mod-sx lands,
+    extract those four functions (engine.sx + the generic half of explain.sx's
+    goal-directed reconstructor) into `lib/guest/rules/`, leaving each consumer
+    its own rules + fact constructors. Proof reconstruction is the non-obvious
+    reusable piece: it only needs the ruleset as data + a saturated db, both of
+    which any datalog-backed guest has.
+  - **dict-mode conformance is slow, not hung:** all suites load + run in one
+    process (~30-40s for 120 tests, no per-suite timeout). Do not kill early.
   - **Tooling note:** sx-tree path-based edit tools (`sx_replace_node`,
     `sx_read_subtree` with a path) ignored the path argument in this worktree
     (always resolved to index 0 / `[0,..]`), in BOTH `(a b c)` and `(a,b,c)`