2026-03-26 17:32:32 +00:00
38 changed files with 440 additions and 603 deletions
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,7 +2,62 @@

 All notable changes to Switchboard Core are documented here.

-## [Unreleased] — v0.1.0
+## [Unreleased] — v0.2.0
+
+### Added
+
+- **Full RBAC**: all authorization flows through group membership and permission
+  grants. No magic roles, no implicit group membership, no special-casing.
+- `surface.admin.access` permission — any group can grant admin panel access
+- Admins system group seeded with all platform permissions
+- Everyone system group — all users explicitly added on creation
+- `EnsureEveryoneGroup()`, `AddToAdminsGroup()`, `RemoveFromAdminsGroup()` helpers
+- `SeedAdminsGroupMember()`, `SeedEveryoneGroupMember()` test helpers
+- System groups re-seeded after `TruncateAll` in test helper
+- OIDC `isIdPAdmin()` — maps IdP role claims to Admins group membership
+
+### Changed
+
+- `RequireAdmin()` / `RequireAdminPage()` check `surface.admin.access` grant
+- `RequirePermission()` no longer bypasses for admin role
+- `ResolvePermissions()` unions explicit group memberships only (no implicit Everyone)
+- All user creation paths (builtin, OIDC, mTLS, admin, bootstrap, seed) add to
+  Everyone group. Admin users added to Admins group.
+- JWT claims no longer include `role` field
+- Login response no longer includes `role` in user object
+- Profile endpoint no longer returns `role`
+- Profile bootstrap resolves permissions from groups (no admin shortcut)
+- Middleware auth cache tracks `isActive` only (no role)
+- Admin create user accepts `is_admin` bool (not role string)
+- Admin update role endpoint accepts `is_admin` bool, manages Admins group directly
+- Demotion/deletion safeguards check Admins group member count
+- Notifications `RoleFallbackHandler` queries Admins group members
+- OIDC syncs Admins group on login (no role column writes)
+- Kernel permissions: 6 → 7 (added `surface.admin.access`)
+- Admin users UI: role dropdown removed, admin managed through groups
+
+### Removed
+
+- **`users.role` column** — dropped from schema, model, JWT, all handlers
+- `UserRoleAdmin`, `UserRoleUser` constants
+- `CountByRole()` store method
+- `DefaultRole` config for OIDC and mTLS providers
+- `SyncAdminsGroupMembership()` (replaced by `AddToAdminsGroup`/`RemoveFromAdminsGroup`)
+- OIDC `resolveRole()` (replaced by `isIdPAdmin()`)
+- **Token budgets** from groups: columns, `ResolveTokenBudget()`, all store/handler/UI
+- **Allowed models** from groups: column, `ResolveModelAllowlist()`, UI
+- Admin groups UI: Token Budgets section, Allowed Models section
+
+### Migration notes
+
+- 001_core.sql (both dialects): removed `role` column from users table
+- 002_teams.sql (both dialects): added Admins group seed, removed
+  `token_budget_daily`, `token_budget_monthly`, `allowed_models` columns
+- No new migration files — edited in place per pre-MVP policy
+
+---
+
+## [v0.1.0] — 2026-03-26

 Forked from chat-switchboard v0.38.5. Gutted to a pure extension platform.

--- a/ROADMAP.md
+++ b/ROADMAP.md
@@ -36,11 +36,17 @@ platform that extensions build on.
 The contract that extensions build against. Three trigger primitives,
 SDK stabilization, and the first rebuilt extension (tasks).

- **Trigger system**: time (cron), webhook (inbound HTTP), event (bus subscription)
+| Step | Status | Description |
+|------|--------|-------------|
+| Admin → RBAC group | ✅ | `surface.admin.access` permission + Admins system group replaces `role == "admin"` checks. Admin bypass removed from permission middleware. |
+| Settings cascade | 🔲 | `user_overridable` flag, RBAC scope auth, resolution chain |
+| ICD (API contract) | 🔲 | OpenAPI spec from registered routes, kernel-only endpoint docs |
+| Trigger system | 🔲 | Time (cron), webhook (inbound HTTP), event (bus subscription) |
+| SDK stabilization | 🔲 | `sb.slots()`, `sb.actions`, `sb.api.ext()`, `sb.storage`, theme tokens, primitive UI |
+
+### Remaining v0.2.0 features
+
 - **Event bus subscriptions**: extensions register match expressions at install time
- **SDK contract**: `sb.slots()`, `sb.actions`, `sb.api.ext()`, `sb.storage`
- **Primitive UI components**: toast, confirm, prompt, dialog (stabilize existing)
- **Theme tokens** exposed to extensions
 - **Task extension**: first proof-of-concept — full task system rebuilt as a
  Starlark extension using triggers + ext_data + notifications
 - **Settings override model**: RBAC controls scope auth (admin → global,
--- a/TURNOVER.md
+++ b/TURNOVER.md
@@ -1,87 +1,85 @@
 # Switchboard Core — Session Turnover
 **Date**: 2026-03-26
 **Author**: Jeffrey Smith (jasafpro@gmail.com)
-**Session**: Platform pivot gut — Phase 0 completion
+**Session**: v0.2.0 PR 1 — Full RBAC migration

 ---

 ## What Was Done

-### Phase 0 (Steps 1-10) — COMPLETE
-Forked from chat-switchboard v0.38.5, gutted all AI/chat features, rebranded
-as Switchboard Core — a pure extension platform kernel.
+### PR 1: Admin → RBAC group migration — COMPLETE
+Branch `feat/admin-rbac-migration` (PR #1), 3 commits:

-**By the numbers:**
- Started: ~800 files, ~100K+ lines
- Now: 462 files, ~75K lines
- Removed: ~44K lines of chat/notes/projects/provider code
- 15 Go packages deleted, 29 handler files removed
- Store interfaces: 40 → 20
- Kernel permissions: 16 → 6
+1. **Admin → RBAC group migration** — `surface.admin.access` permission +
+   Admins system group replaces hardcoded `role == "admin"` checks. Admin
+   bypass removed from `RequirePermission`. Bootstrap/seed/OIDC/admin handlers
+   sync group membership.

-### Key commits this session:
- Steps 5-8: deep gut of code, build clean, tests pass
- Step 9: single Docker image CI/CD, drop FE/BE split
- Step 10: K8s deploy live, nginx BASE_PATH fixes, login→admin verified
- Branding: "Chat Switchboard" → "Switchboard Core"
+2. **Remove token budgets + allowed models from groups** — Provider-era cruft:
+   `token_budget_daily`, `token_budget_monthly`, `allowed_models` columns,
+   `ResolveTokenBudget()`, `ResolveModelAllowlist()`, and all store/handler/UI
+   code deleted. -283 lines.

-### Deployment state:
- **CI**: Green on Gitea Actions (build + test + deploy)
- **K8s**: `switchboard.gobha.ai/test` — live in `gobha-ai-switchboard` namespace
- **DB**: Postgres connected, schema at 009_ha.sql
- **Storage**: PVC (S3 keys not configured yet)
- **Old namespace**: `gobha-ai-chat` — stale ingresses cleaned up
+3. **Drop `users.role` column** — Full RBAC. Zero magic roles. The `role` column,
+   `UserRoleAdmin`/`UserRoleUser` constants, `CountByRole()`, `DefaultRole` config,
+   `role` in JWT claims, and all role-based shortcuts removed. Everyone group
+   membership is now explicit (all users added on create). 28 files changed.
+
+**Net result: -364 lines across 3 commits.**
+
+### Architecture after this PR:
+
+- **Everyone group** (`00000000...0001`): all users explicitly added on creation.
+  Carries `extension.use`, `workflow.submit`.
+- **Admins group** (`00000000...0002`): carries all 7 kernel permissions including
+  `surface.admin.access`. Not special-cased — just a group with permissions.
+- **Permission resolution**: union of all group memberships. No implicit groups,
+  no role shortcuts, no admin bypass.
+- **Admin middleware**: checks `surface.admin.access` grant via `resolveAndCachePerms`.
+- **JWT claims**: `user_id` + `email` only. No role.
+- **OIDC**: `isIdPAdmin()` maps IdP role claim → Admins group membership.
+  No `role` column writes.
+- **User creation paths**: builtin register, OIDC auto-provision, mTLS auto-provision,
+  admin create, bootstrap, seed — all call `EnsureEveryoneGroup()`.

 ---

 ## Known Issues

-1. **Frontend test job**: Some gutted chat/model/channel tests were removed
-   but the FE test suite may have remaining stale references
+1. **Frontend test job**: FE test suite may have remaining stale references
+   from Phase 0 gut (pre-existing)
 2. **Traefik middleware**: `rbac-traefik.yaml` needs one-time manual apply
-   by cluster admin for retry middleware (non-blocking)
-3. **`SEED_USERS`**: Not set in K8s secrets — no initial admin user created
-   on the test deployment. Set in Gitea secrets to bootstrap.
-4. **Editor modules**: `src/editor/*.mjs` files still reference "Chat
-   Switchboard" — these are CodeMirror build files, low priority
+   by cluster admin (pre-existing, non-blocking)
+3. **`SEED_USERS`**: Not set in K8s secrets (pre-existing)
+4. **Editor modules**: `src/editor/*.mjs` still reference "Chat Switchboard"
+   (pre-existing, low priority)
+5. **K8s deploy**: PR not yet merged to main — CI/CD will need a deploy after merge

 ---

 ## What's Next

-### Protect main (DO NOW)
-Phase 0 is complete. Main should be protected. All future work via PRs.
+### Merge PR #1
+Review and merge `feat/admin-rbac-migration` to main.

-### v0.2.0 — First PRs
-
-**PR 1: Admin → RBAC group migration**
- Add `surface.admin.access` to permissions table
- Seed "Admins" group with that grant
- Seed "Everyone" group, auto-member all users
- Change admin middleware: role check → grant check
- **Edit existing migration SQL files in place** (no new migrations pre-MVP)
+### v0.2.0 — Remaining PRs

 **PR 2: Settings cascade**
 - Add `user_overridable` flag to settings schema
 - RBAC controls scope auth (admin → global, team-admin → team, user → personal)
- `user_overridable` controls whether lower scope can override higher
 - Resolution: user → team → global (first non-null wins)

 **PR 3: ICD (API contract)**
 - Generate full OpenAPI spec from registered routes
 - Document kernel-only endpoints
- Mark extension API surface

 **PR 4: Trigger system**
- Time triggers (cron)
- Webhook triggers (inbound HTTP)
- Event triggers (bus subscription)
+- Time triggers (cron), webhook (inbound HTTP), event (bus subscription)
 - Extensions register match expressions at install

 **PR 5: SDK stabilization**
 - `sb.slots()`, `sb.actions`, `sb.api.ext()`, `sb.storage`
 - Theme tokens exposed to extensions
- Primitive UI components (toast, confirm, prompt, dialog)

 ---

@@ -89,12 +87,13 @@ Phase 0 is complete. Main should be protected. All future work via PRs.

 | Decision | Detail |
 |----------|--------|
+| Full RBAC — no magic roles | `users.role` column dropped entirely. All authorization through group membership + permission grants. |
+| Explicit Everyone membership | No implicit "all users get Everyone perms". Every user added to Everyone group on create. `member_count` reflects reality. |
+| Admins group not special-cased | Code never checks group identity — only checks for `surface.admin.access` permission. Any group can grant it. |
 | No new migrations pre-MVP | Edit existing SQL files in place. Schema isn't in production. |
-| Admin → RBAC group | `role` column replaced by "Admins" group + grant. |
-| Settings: two axes | RBAC = who can change at what scope. `user_overridable` = can lower scope override. Orthogonal. |
-| Default surface | No surfaces → admin is default. First installed becomes default. Configurable. |
-| Protect main after Step 7+ | Destructive surgery done on main. Additive work (ICD, triggers) goes through PRs. |
-| Single Docker image | nginx + Go binary + static assets + migrations. One image, one deployment. |
+| JWT simplified | Claims carry `user_id` + `email` only. Permissions resolved server-side from groups on every request. |
+| OIDC role → group sync | `isIdPAdmin()` replaces `resolveRole()`. IdP admin claim maps to Admins group membership, not a DB column. |
+| Token budgets/allowed models removed | Provider-era cruft. Belongs in a future provider extension, not the kernel. |

 ---

@@ -105,14 +104,18 @@ Phase 0 is complete. Main should be protected. All future work via PRs.
 | Roadmap | `ROADMAP.md` |
 | Changelog | `CHANGELOG.md` |
 | CI workflow | `.gitea/workflows/ci.yaml` |
-| K8s manifests | `k8s/` (switchboard.yaml, ingress.yaml, storage-pvc.yaml) |
+| K8s manifests | `k8s/` |
 | Docker compose (local dev) | `docker-compose.yml` (SQLite, port 3000) |
 | Nginx template | `nginx.conf.template` |
-| Entrypoint | `docker-entrypoint.sh` |
-| Migrations | `server/migrations/postgres/`, `server/migrations/sqlite/` |
-| Go backend | `server/` |
-| Frontend shell | `src/` |
-| Templates | `server/pages/templates/` |
+| Migrations | `server/database/migrations/{postgres,sqlite}/` |
+| Permission constants | `server/auth/permissions.go` |
+| Admin middleware | `server/middleware/admin.go` |
+| Group store | `server/store/{postgres,sqlite}/groups.go` |
+| Bootstrap/seed | `server/handlers/auth.go` |
+| Admin handlers | `server/handlers/admin.go` |
+| Groups UI | `src/js/sw/surfaces/admin/groups.js` |
+| Users UI | `src/js/sw/surfaces/admin/users.js` |
+| SDK API | `src/js/sw/sdk/api-domains.js` |
 | Memory (Claude) | `.claude/projects/-config-Projects-core/memory/` |

 ---
--- a/server/auth/builtin.go
+++ b/server/auth/builtin.go
@@ -82,7 +82,6 @@ func (p *BuiltinProvider) Register(c *gin.Context, stores store.Stores) (*Result
 		Username:     strings.ToLower(req.Username),
 		Email:        strings.ToLower(req.Email),
 		PasswordHash: string(hash),
-		Role:         models.UserRoleUser,
 		IsActive:     defaultActive,
 		AuthSource:   string(ModeBuiltin),
 		Handle:       handle,
@@ -92,6 +91,8 @@ func (p *BuiltinProvider) Register(c *gin.Context, stores store.Stores) (*Result
 		return nil, err
 	}

+	EnsureEveryoneGroup(ctx, stores, user.ID)
+
 	return &Result{User: user, IsNewUser: true, VaultHint: req.Password}, nil
 }

--- a/server/auth/mtls.go
+++ b/server/auth/mtls.go
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ type MTLSConfig struct {
 	HeaderFingerprint string // header carrying cert fingerprint (default "X-SSL-Client-Fingerprint")
 	AutoActivate      bool   // auto-activate new users (default true)
 	DefaultTeam       string // team ID for auto-provisioned users (optional)
-	DefaultRole       string // "user" (default) or "admin"
 }

 // MTLSProvider authenticates via client certificate headers injected
@@ -48,9 +47,6 @@ func NewMTLSProvider(cfg MTLSConfig) *MTLSProvider {
 	if cfg.HeaderFingerprint == "" {
 		cfg.HeaderFingerprint = "X-SSL-Client-Fingerprint"
 	}
-	if cfg.DefaultRole == "" {
-		cfg.DefaultRole = models.UserRoleUser
-	}
 	return &MTLSProvider{cfg: cfg}
 }

@@ -134,7 +130,6 @@ func (p *MTLSProvider) autoProvision(
 		Username:    handle,
 		Email:       email,
 		DisplayName: cn,
-		Role:        p.cfg.DefaultRole,
 		IsActive:    true,
 		AuthSource:  string(ModeMTLS),
 		ExternalID:  &fingerprint,
@@ -146,6 +141,7 @@ func (p *MTLSProvider) autoProvision(
 	}

 	log.Printf("[auth/mtls] auto-provisioned user %s from CN=%s", user.ID, cn)
+	EnsureEveryoneGroup(ctx, stores, user.ID)

 	// Auto-add to default team if configured
 	if p.cfg.DefaultTeam != "" {
--- a/server/auth/mtls_test.go
+++ b/server/auth/mtls_test.go
@@ -96,24 +96,17 @@ func TestMTLSConfig_Defaults(t *testing.T) {
 	if p.cfg.HeaderFingerprint != "X-SSL-Client-Fingerprint" {
 		t.Errorf("HeaderFingerprint = %q, want X-SSL-Client-Fingerprint", p.cfg.HeaderFingerprint)
 	}
-	if p.cfg.DefaultRole != "user" {
-		t.Errorf("DefaultRole = %q, want user", p.cfg.DefaultRole)
-	}
 }

 func TestMTLSConfig_Custom(t *testing.T) {
 	p := NewMTLSProvider(MTLSConfig{
 		HeaderDN:     "X-Client-Cert-DN",
 		HeaderVerify: "X-Client-Cert-Verify",
-		DefaultRole:  "admin",
 	})

 	if p.cfg.HeaderDN != "X-Client-Cert-DN" {
 		t.Errorf("HeaderDN = %q, want X-Client-Cert-DN", p.cfg.HeaderDN)
 	}
-	if p.cfg.DefaultRole != "admin" {
-		t.Errorf("DefaultRole = %q, want admin", p.cfg.DefaultRole)
-	}
 }

 func TestMTLSProvider_Mode(t *testing.T) {
--- a/server/auth/oidc.go
+++ b/server/auth/oidc.go
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ type OIDCConfig struct {
 	RedirectURL  string // e.g. "https://switchboard.corp/api/v1/auth/oidc/callback"
 	AutoActivate bool   // auto-activate new users (default true)
 	DefaultTeam  string // team ID for auto-provisioned users (optional)
-	DefaultRole  string // "user" (default) or "admin"
 	RolesClaim   string // JWT claim for role mapping (default "realm_access.roles")
 	GroupsClaim  string // JWT claim for group sync (default "groups")
 	AdminRole    string // IdP role value that maps to admin (default "admin")
@@ -92,9 +91,6 @@ func NewOIDCProvider(cfg OIDCConfig) (*OIDCProvider, error) {
 	if cfg.ClientID == "" {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("OIDC_CLIENT_ID is required")
 	}
-	if cfg.DefaultRole == "" {
-		cfg.DefaultRole = models.UserRoleUser
-	}
 	if cfg.RolesClaim == "" {
 		cfg.RolesClaim = "realm_access.roles"
 	}
@@ -164,11 +160,9 @@ func (p *OIDCProvider) Authenticate(c *gin.Context, stores store.Stores) (*Resul
 			return nil, ErrInactive
 		}

-		// Re-evaluate role on every login
-		role := p.resolveRole(claims)
-		if role != user.Role {
-			stores.Users.Update(ctx, user.ID, map[string]interface{}{"role": role})
-			user.Role = role
+		// Sync Admins group based on IdP role claim
+		if p.isIdPAdmin(claims) {
+			AddToAdminsGroup(ctx, stores, user.ID)
 		}

 		// Sync groups
@@ -310,14 +304,14 @@ func (p *OIDCProvider) validateToken(tokenString string) (*oidcClaims, error) {
 	return claims, nil
 }

-func (p *OIDCProvider) resolveRole(claims *oidcClaims) string {
-	// Check realm_access.roles for admin role
+// isIdPAdmin checks whether the OIDC claims include the configured admin role.
+func (p *OIDCProvider) isIdPAdmin(claims *oidcClaims) bool {
 	for _, role := range claims.RealmAccess.Roles {
 		if role == p.cfg.AdminRole {
-			return models.UserRoleAdmin
+			return true
 		}
 	}
-	return p.cfg.DefaultRole
+	return false
 }

 // syncGroups compares IdP groups claim with internal group memberships
@@ -454,14 +448,12 @@ func (p *OIDCProvider) autoProvision(
 		displayName = username
 	}

-	role := p.resolveRole(claims)
 	handle := UniqueHandle(ctx, stores.Users, models.HandleFromName(username))

 	user := &models.User{
 		Username:    strings.ToLower(username),
 		Email:       strings.ToLower(email),
 		DisplayName: displayName,
-		Role:        role,
 		IsActive:    true,
 		AuthSource:  string(ModeOIDC),
 		ExternalID:  &sub,
@@ -474,6 +466,11 @@ func (p *OIDCProvider) autoProvision(

 	log.Printf("[auth/oidc] auto-provisioned user %s (sub=%s, email=%s)", user.ID, sub, email)

+	EnsureEveryoneGroup(ctx, stores, user.ID)
+	if p.isIdPAdmin(claims) {
+		AddToAdminsGroup(ctx, stores, user.ID)
+	}
+
 	// Auto-add to default team
 	if p.cfg.DefaultTeam != "" {
 		if err := stores.Teams.AddMember(ctx, p.cfg.DefaultTeam, user.ID, "member"); err != nil {
--- a/server/auth/permissions.go
+++ b/server/auth/permissions.go
@@ -2,29 +2,35 @@ package auth

 import (
 	"context"
-	"time"

 	"switchboard-core/store"
 )

 // EveryoneGroupID is the stable ID of the implicit "Everyone" group seeded in
-// migration 020. Every authenticated user receives its permissions without an
+// migration 002. Every authenticated user receives its permissions without an
 // explicit membership row.
 const EveryoneGroupID = "00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001"

+// AdminsGroupID is the stable ID of the "Admins" system group seeded in
+// migration 002. Members receive surface.admin.access and all platform
+// permissions. Replaces the legacy users.role = 'admin' check.
+const AdminsGroupID = "00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000002"
+
 // Permission constants — domain.action convention.
 const (
-	PermExtensionUse     = "extension.use"     // use installed extensions
-	PermExtensionInstall = "extension.install"  // install/manage extension packages
-	PermWorkflowCreate   = "workflow.create"    // create workflow definitions
-	PermWorkflowSubmit   = "workflow.submit"    // submit to public workflows
-	PermAdminView        = "admin.view"         // read-only admin panel access
-	PermTokenUnlimited   = "token.unlimited"    // bypass token budgets
+	PermSurfaceAdminAccess = "surface.admin.access" // full admin panel access (replaces role check)
+	PermExtensionUse       = "extension.use"        // use installed extensions
+	PermExtensionInstall   = "extension.install"     // install/manage extension packages
+	PermWorkflowCreate     = "workflow.create"       // create workflow definitions
+	PermWorkflowSubmit     = "workflow.submit"       // submit to public workflows
+	PermAdminView          = "admin.view"            // read-only admin panel access
+	PermTokenUnlimited     = "token.unlimited"       // bypass token budgets
 )

 // AllPermissions is the complete set of valid permission strings.
 // Used for validation in handlers and rendering checkboxes in admin UI.
 var AllPermissions = []string{
+	PermSurfaceAdminAccess,
 	PermExtensionUse,
 	PermExtensionInstall,
 	PermWorkflowCreate,
@@ -36,19 +42,10 @@ var AllPermissions = []string{
 // ── Resolution ──────────────────────────────

 // ResolvePermissions returns the effective permission set for a user.
-// Always includes the Everyone group regardless of membership.
-// Callers should short-circuit for role=admin before calling this.
+// Unions permissions from all groups the user is a member of (including Everyone).
 func ResolvePermissions(ctx context.Context, stores store.Stores, userID string) (map[string]bool, error) {
 	perms := make(map[string]bool)

-	// Always apply Everyone group — no membership row required.
-	if everyone, err := stores.Groups.GetByID(ctx, EveryoneGroupID); err == nil {
-		for _, p := range everyone.Permissions {
-			perms[p] = true
-		}
-	}
-
-	// Union all explicit group memberships.
 	groups, err := stores.Groups.ListForUser(ctx, userID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return perms, err
@@ -62,91 +59,19 @@ func ResolvePermissions(ctx context.Context, stores store.Stores, userID string)
 	return perms, nil
 }

-// ── Token Budget ────────────────────────────
-
-// TokenBudget holds the resolved ceiling for a user and the time window it covers.
-type TokenBudget struct {
-	Limit  int64
-	Period string // "daily" or "monthly"
+// EnsureEveryoneGroup adds a user to the Everyone group (idempotent).
+// Called on every user creation path so that Everyone membership is explicit.
+func EnsureEveryoneGroup(ctx context.Context, stores store.Stores, userID string) {
+	_ = stores.Groups.AddMember(ctx, EveryoneGroupID, userID, userID)
 }

-// ResolveTokenBudget returns the most restrictive token budget across all of the
-// user's groups. Returns nil if no group has a budget set (unrestricted).
-// Callers should skip budget enforcement when providerScope == "personal" (BYOK).
-func ResolveTokenBudget(ctx context.Context, stores store.Stores, userID string) (*TokenBudget, error) {
-	groups, err := stores.Groups.ListForUser(ctx, userID)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	now := time.Now()
-	isNewDay := now.Hour() < 1
-	_ = isNewDay // used by callers for cache invalidation hints if needed
-
-	var daily, monthly *int64
-	for _, g := range groups {
-		if g.TokenBudgetDaily != nil {
-			if daily == nil || *g.TokenBudgetDaily < *daily {
-				daily = g.TokenBudgetDaily
-			}
-		}
-		if g.TokenBudgetMonthly != nil {
-			if monthly == nil || *g.TokenBudgetMonthly < *monthly {
-				monthly = g.TokenBudgetMonthly
-			}
-		}
-	}
-
-	// Return the most restrictive window. Daily wins when both are set
-	// and daily is the binding constraint.
-	if daily != nil {
-		return &TokenBudget{Limit: *daily, Period: "daily"}, nil
-	}
-	if monthly != nil {
-		return &TokenBudget{Limit: *monthly, Period: "monthly"}, nil
-	}
-	return nil, nil
+// AddToAdminsGroup adds a user to the Admins group (idempotent).
+func AddToAdminsGroup(ctx context.Context, stores store.Stores, userID string) {
+	_ = stores.Groups.AddMember(ctx, AdminsGroupID, userID, userID)
 }

-// ── Model Allowlist ─────────────────────────
-
-// ResolveModelAllowlist returns the union of allowed model IDs across all of the
-// user's groups. Returns nil if the user is unrestricted (any group has a nil
-// allowlist, which means "no restriction").
-func ResolveModelAllowlist(ctx context.Context, stores store.Stores, userID string) (map[string]bool, error) {
-	groups, err := stores.Groups.ListForUser(ctx, userID)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	// If any group has nil AllowedModels, the user is unrestricted.
-	for _, g := range groups {
-		if g.AllowedModels == nil {
-			return nil, nil
-		}
-	}
-
-	// All groups have explicit allowlists — union them.
-	allowed := make(map[string]bool)
-	for _, g := range groups {
-		for _, m := range g.AllowedModels {
-			allowed[m] = true
-		}
-	}
-	// No groups at all → fall through to Everyone group check.
-	if len(groups) == 0 {
-		if everyone, err := stores.Groups.GetByID(ctx, EveryoneGroupID); err == nil {
-			if everyone.AllowedModels == nil {
-				return nil, nil // Everyone has no restriction
-			}
-			for _, m := range everyone.AllowedModels {
-				allowed[m] = true
-			}
-		}
-	}
-
-	if len(allowed) == 0 {
-		return nil, nil // empty allowlists across all groups = unrestricted
-	}
-	return allowed, nil
+// RemoveFromAdminsGroup removes a user from the Admins group.
+func RemoveFromAdminsGroup(ctx context.Context, stores store.Stores, userID string) {
+	_ = stores.Groups.RemoveMember(ctx, AdminsGroupID, userID)
 }
+
--- a/server/config/config.go
+++ b/server/config/config.go
@@ -62,7 +62,6 @@ type Config struct {
 	MTLSHeaderFingerprint string // default "X-SSL-Client-Fingerprint"
 	MTLSAutoActivate      bool   // auto-activate new users (default true)
 	MTLSDefaultTeam       string // team ID for auto-provisioned users (optional)
-	MTLSDefaultRole       string // "user" (default) or "admin"

 	// OIDC (v0.24.1)
 	OIDCIssuerURL    string // e.g. "https://keycloak.corp/realms/switchboard"
@@ -72,7 +71,6 @@ type Config struct {
 	OIDCRedirectURL  string // e.g. "https://switchboard.corp/api/v1/auth/oidc/callback"
 	OIDCAutoActivate bool   // auto-activate new users (default true)
 	OIDCDefaultTeam  string // team ID for auto-provisioned users (optional)
-	OIDCDefaultRole  string // "user" (default) or "admin"
 	OIDCRolesClaim   string // JWT claim for role mapping (default "realm_access.roles")
 	OIDCGroupsClaim  string // JWT claim for group sync (default "groups")
 	OIDCAdminRole    string // IdP role value that maps to admin (default "admin")
@@ -118,7 +116,6 @@ func Load() *Config {
 		MTLSHeaderFingerprint: getEnv("MTLS_HEADER_FINGERPRINT", "X-SSL-Client-Fingerprint"),
 		MTLSAutoActivate:      getEnvBool("MTLS_AUTO_ACTIVATE", true),
 		MTLSDefaultTeam:       getEnv("MTLS_DEFAULT_TEAM", ""),
-		MTLSDefaultRole:       getEnv("MTLS_DEFAULT_ROLE", "user"),

 		// OIDC
 		OIDCIssuerURL:            getEnv("OIDC_ISSUER_URL", ""),
@@ -128,7 +125,6 @@ func Load() *Config {
 		OIDCRedirectURL:  getEnv("OIDC_REDIRECT_URL", ""),
 		OIDCAutoActivate: getEnvBool("OIDC_AUTO_ACTIVATE", true),
 		OIDCDefaultTeam:  getEnv("OIDC_DEFAULT_TEAM", ""),
-		OIDCDefaultRole:  getEnv("OIDC_DEFAULT_ROLE", "user"),
 		OIDCRolesClaim:   getEnv("OIDC_ROLES_CLAIM", "realm_access.roles"),
 		OIDCGroupsClaim:  getEnv("OIDC_GROUPS_CLAIM", "groups"),
 		OIDCAdminRole:    getEnv("OIDC_ADMIN_ROLE", "admin"),
--- a/server/database/migrations/postgres/001_core.sql
+++ b/server/database/migrations/postgres/001_core.sql
@@ -23,8 +23,6 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS users (
    password_hash   TEXT,
    display_name    VARCHAR(100),
    avatar_url      TEXT,
-    role            VARCHAR(20) DEFAULT 'user'
-                    CHECK (role IN ('user', 'admin')),
    is_active       BOOLEAN DEFAULT true,
    settings        JSONB DEFAULT '{}'::jsonb,
    auth_source     VARCHAR(20) NOT NULL DEFAULT 'builtin'
--- a/server/database/migrations/postgres/002_teams.sql
+++ b/server/database/migrations/postgres/002_teams.sql
@@ -44,9 +44,6 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS groups (
    source      VARCHAR(20) NOT NULL DEFAULT 'manual'
                CHECK (source IN ('manual', 'oidc', 'system')),
    permissions          JSONB   NOT NULL DEFAULT '[]'::jsonb,
-    token_budget_daily   BIGINT,
-    token_budget_monthly BIGINT,
-    allowed_models       JSONB,
    created_at  TIMESTAMPTZ DEFAULT NOW(),
    updated_at  TIMESTAMPTZ DEFAULT NOW(),
    CONSTRAINT groups_scope_team CHECK (
@@ -83,3 +80,16 @@ VALUES (
    '["extension.use","workflow.submit"]'::jsonb
 )
 ON CONFLICT (id) DO NOTHING;
+
+-- Seed Admins group — members receive full platform permissions.
+-- Replaces the legacy users.role = 'admin' authorization check.
+-- Membership is managed by bootstrap/seed logic at runtime.
+INSERT INTO groups (id, name, description, scope, created_by, source, permissions)
+VALUES (
+    '00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000002',
+    'Admins',
+    'Full platform access — replaces legacy admin role.',
+    'global', NULL, 'system',
+    '["surface.admin.access","extension.use","extension.install","workflow.create","workflow.submit","admin.view","token.unlimited"]'::jsonb
+)
+ON CONFLICT (id) DO NOTHING;
--- a/server/database/migrations/sqlite/001_core.sql
+++ b/server/database/migrations/sqlite/001_core.sql
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS users (
    password_hash   TEXT,
    display_name    TEXT,
    avatar_url      TEXT,
-    role            TEXT DEFAULT 'user' CHECK (role IN ('user', 'admin')),
    is_active       INTEGER DEFAULT 1,
    settings        TEXT DEFAULT '{}',
    auth_source     TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT 'builtin',
--- a/server/database/migrations/sqlite/002_teams.sql
+++ b/server/database/migrations/sqlite/002_teams.sql
@@ -40,9 +40,6 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS groups (
    created_by  TEXT REFERENCES users(id),
    source      TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT 'manual' CHECK (source IN ('manual', 'oidc', 'system')),
    permissions          TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '[]',
-    token_budget_daily   INTEGER,
-    token_budget_monthly INTEGER,
-    allowed_models       TEXT,
    created_at  TEXT DEFAULT (datetime('now')),
    updated_at  TEXT DEFAULT (datetime('now'))
 );
@@ -74,3 +71,15 @@ VALUES (
    'global', NULL, 'system',
    '["extension.use","workflow.submit"]'
 );
+
+-- Seed Admins group — members receive full platform permissions.
+-- Replaces the legacy users.role = 'admin' authorization check.
+-- Membership is managed by bootstrap/seed logic at runtime.
+INSERT OR IGNORE INTO groups (id, name, description, scope, created_by, source, permissions)
+VALUES (
+    '00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000002',
+    'Admins',
+    'Full platform access — replaces legacy admin role.',
+    'global', NULL, 'system',
+    '["surface.admin.access","extension.use","extension.install","workflow.create","workflow.submit","admin.view","token.unlimited"]'
+);
--- a/server/database/testhelper.go
+++ b/server/database/testhelper.go
@@ -304,6 +304,31 @@ func TruncateAll(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}

+	// Re-seed system groups (truncated above).
+	if IsSQLite() {
+		DB.Exec(`INSERT OR IGNORE INTO groups (id, name, description, scope, created_by, source, permissions)
+			VALUES ('00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001', 'Everyone',
+				'Implicit group — all authenticated users receive these permissions.',
+				'global', NULL, 'system', '["extension.use","workflow.submit"]')`)
+		DB.Exec(`INSERT OR IGNORE INTO groups (id, name, description, scope, created_by, source, permissions)
+			VALUES ('00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000002', 'Admins',
+				'Full platform access — replaces legacy admin role.',
+				'global', NULL, 'system',
+				'["surface.admin.access","extension.use","extension.install","workflow.create","workflow.submit","admin.view","token.unlimited"]')`)
+	} else {
+		DB.Exec(`INSERT INTO groups (id, name, description, scope, created_by, source, permissions)
+			VALUES ('00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001', 'Everyone',
+				'Implicit group — all authenticated users receive these permissions.',
+				'global', NULL, 'system', '["extension.use","workflow.submit"]'::jsonb)
+			ON CONFLICT (id) DO NOTHING`)
+		DB.Exec(`INSERT INTO groups (id, name, description, scope, created_by, source, permissions)
+			VALUES ('00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000002', 'Admins',
+				'Full platform access — replaces legacy admin role.',
+				'global', NULL, 'system',
+				'["surface.admin.access","extension.use","extension.install","workflow.create","workflow.submit","admin.view","token.unlimited"]'::jsonb)
+			ON CONFLICT (id) DO NOTHING`)
+	}
+
 	// Re-seed default config rows.
 	if IsSQLite() {
 		DB.Exec(`
@@ -350,33 +375,69 @@ func TruncateAll(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }

-// SeedTestUser creates a test user and returns the user ID.
+// SeedTestUser creates a test user, adds to Everyone group, and returns the user ID.
 func SeedTestUser(t *testing.T, username, email string) string {
 	t.Helper()
 	handle := strings.ToLower(strings.ReplaceAll(username, " ", "-"))
 	if IsSQLite() {
 		id := uuid.New().String()
 		_, err := DB.Exec(`
-			INSERT INTO users (id, username, email, password_hash, role, auth_source, handle)
-			VALUES (?, ?, ?, '$2a$10$dummy.hash.for.testing.only.000000000000000000000', 'user', 'builtin', ?)
+			INSERT INTO users (id, username, email, password_hash, auth_source, handle)
+			VALUES (?, ?, ?, '$2a$10$dummy.hash.for.testing.only.000000000000000000000', 'builtin', ?)
 		`, id, username, email, handle)
 		if err != nil {
 			t.Fatalf("SeedTestUser: %v", err)
 		}
+		SeedEveryoneGroupMember(t, id)
 		return id
 	}
 	var id string
 	err := DB.QueryRow(`
-		INSERT INTO users (username, email, password_hash, role, auth_source, handle)
-		VALUES ($1, $2, '$2a$10$dummy.hash.for.testing.only.000000000000000000000', 'user', 'builtin', $3)
+		INSERT INTO users (username, email, password_hash, auth_source, handle)
+		VALUES ($1, $2, '$2a$10$dummy.hash.for.testing.only.000000000000000000000', 'builtin', $3)
 		RETURNING id
 	`, username, email, handle).Scan(&id)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("SeedTestUser: %v", err)
 	}
+	SeedEveryoneGroupMember(t, id)
 	return id
 }

+// SeedEveryoneGroupMember adds a user to the Everyone system group in test databases.
+func SeedEveryoneGroupMember(t *testing.T, userID string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	const everyoneGroupID = "00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001"
+	if IsSQLite() {
+		DB.Exec(`INSERT OR IGNORE INTO group_members (id, group_id, user_id, added_by) VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?)`,
+			uuid.New().String(), everyoneGroupID, userID, userID)
+		return
+	}
+	DB.Exec(`INSERT INTO group_members (group_id, user_id, added_by) VALUES ($1, $2, $3) ON CONFLICT DO NOTHING`,
+		everyoneGroupID, userID, userID)
+}
+
+// SeedAdminsGroupMember adds a user to the Admins system group in test databases.
+// Call after creating a user with role='admin' so they receive surface.admin.access
+// through the normal permission resolution path.
+func SeedAdminsGroupMember(t *testing.T, userID string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	const adminsGroupID = "00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000002"
+	if IsSQLite() {
+		_, err := DB.Exec(`INSERT OR IGNORE INTO group_members (id, group_id, user_id, added_by) VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?)`,
+			uuid.New().String(), adminsGroupID, userID, userID)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("SeedAdminsGroupMember: %v", err)
+		}
+		return
+	}
+	_, err := DB.Exec(`INSERT INTO group_members (group_id, user_id, added_by) VALUES ($1, $2, $3) ON CONFLICT DO NOTHING`,
+		adminsGroupID, userID, userID)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("SeedAdminsGroupMember: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
 // SeedTestChannel creates a test channel owned by userID and returns the channel ID.
 func SeedTestChannel(t *testing.T, userID, title string) string {
 	t.Helper()
--- a/server/handlers/admin.go
+++ b/server/handlers/admin.go
@@ -69,29 +69,25 @@ func (h *AdminHandler) CreateUser(c *gin.Context) {
 		Username string `json:"username" binding:"required"`
 		Email    string `json:"email" binding:"required"`
 		Password string `json:"password" binding:"required,min=8"`
-		Role     string `json:"role"`
+		IsAdmin  bool   `json:"is_admin"`
 	}
 	if err := c.ShouldBindJSON(&req); err != nil {
 		c.JSON(http.StatusBadRequest, gin.H{"error": err.Error()})
 		return
 	}

+	ctx := c.Request.Context()
 	hash, _ := bcrypt.GenerateFromPassword([]byte(req.Password), bcryptCost)
-	role := models.UserRoleUser
-	if req.Role == models.UserRoleAdmin {
-		role = models.UserRoleAdmin
-	}

 	user := &models.User{
 		Username:     strings.ToLower(req.Username),
 		Email:        strings.ToLower(req.Email),
 		PasswordHash: string(hash),
-		Role:         role,
 		IsActive:     true,
-		Handle:       auth.UniqueHandle(c.Request.Context(), h.stores.Users, models.HandleFromName(req.Username)),
+		Handle:       auth.UniqueHandle(ctx, h.stores.Users, models.HandleFromName(req.Username)),
 	}

-	if err := h.stores.Users.Create(c.Request.Context(), user); err != nil {
+	if err := h.stores.Users.Create(ctx, user); err != nil {
 		if database.IsUniqueViolation(err) {
 			c.JSON(http.StatusConflict, gin.H{"error": "username or email already exists"})
 			return
@@ -100,46 +96,55 @@ func (h *AdminHandler) CreateUser(c *gin.Context) {
 		return
 	}

+	auth.EnsureEveryoneGroup(ctx, h.stores, user.ID)
+	if req.IsAdmin {
+		auth.AddToAdminsGroup(ctx, h.stores, user.ID)
+	}
+
 	h.auditLog(c, "user.create", "user", user.ID, nil)
 	c.JSON(http.StatusCreated, user)
 }

 func (h *AdminHandler) UpdateUserRole(c *gin.Context) {
 	id := c.Param("id")
+	ctx := c.Request.Context()
 	var req struct {
-		Role string `json:"role" binding:"required"`
+		IsAdmin bool `json:"is_admin"`
 	}
 	if err := c.ShouldBindJSON(&req); err != nil {
 		c.JSON(http.StatusBadRequest, gin.H{"error": err.Error()})
 		return
 	}

-	// Guard: prevent demoting the last admin
-	if req.Role != models.UserRoleAdmin {
-		user, err := h.stores.Users.GetByID(c.Request.Context(), id)
-		if err != nil || user == nil {
-			c.JSON(http.StatusNotFound, gin.H{"error": "user not found"})
-			return
-		}
-		if user.Role == models.UserRoleAdmin {
-			adminCount, _ := h.stores.Users.CountByRole(c.Request.Context(), models.UserRoleAdmin)
-			if adminCount <= 1 {
-				c.JSON(http.StatusConflict, gin.H{"error": "cannot demote the last admin"})
-				return
-			}
-		}
-	}
-
-	if err := h.stores.Users.Update(c.Request.Context(), id, map[string]interface{}{"role": req.Role}); err != nil {
-		c.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, gin.H{"error": "failed to update role"})
+	if _, err := h.stores.Users.GetByID(ctx, id); err != nil {
+		c.JSON(http.StatusNotFound, gin.H{"error": "user not found"})
 		return
 	}

-	h.auditLog(c, "user.role_change", "user", id, gin.H{"role": req.Role})
+	if !req.IsAdmin {
+		// Guard: prevent removing the last admin from Admins group.
+		members, _ := h.stores.Groups.ListMembers(ctx, auth.AdminsGroupID)
+		isMember := false
+		for _, m := range members {
+			if m.UserID == id {
+				isMember = true
+				break
+			}
+		}
+		if isMember && len(members) <= 1 {
+			c.JSON(http.StatusConflict, gin.H{"error": "cannot remove the last admin"})
+			return
+		}
+		auth.RemoveFromAdminsGroup(ctx, h.stores, id)
+	} else {
+		auth.AddToAdminsGroup(ctx, h.stores, id)
+	}
+
+	h.auditLog(c, "user.role_change", "user", id, gin.H{"is_admin": req.IsAdmin})
 	if h.onUserChanged != nil {
 		h.onUserChanged(id)
 	}
-	c.JSON(http.StatusOK, gin.H{"message": "role updated"})
+	c.JSON(http.StatusOK, gin.H{"message": "admin status updated"})
 }

 func (h *AdminHandler) ToggleUserActive(c *gin.Context) {
@@ -248,18 +253,22 @@ func (h *AdminHandler) DeleteUser(c *gin.Context) {
 	id := c.Param("id")

 	// Guard: prevent deleting the last admin
-	user, err := h.stores.Users.GetByID(c.Request.Context(), id)
-	if err != nil || user == nil {
+	if _, err := h.stores.Users.GetByID(c.Request.Context(), id); err != nil {
 		c.JSON(http.StatusNotFound, gin.H{"error": "user not found"})
 		return
 	}
-	if user.Role == models.UserRoleAdmin {
-		adminCount, _ := h.stores.Users.CountByRole(c.Request.Context(), models.UserRoleAdmin)
-		if adminCount <= 1 {
-			c.JSON(http.StatusConflict, gin.H{"error": "cannot delete the last admin"})
-			return
+	members, _ := h.stores.Groups.ListMembers(c.Request.Context(), auth.AdminsGroupID)
+	isAdmin := false
+	for _, m := range members {
+		if m.UserID == id {
+			isAdmin = true
+			break
 		}
 	}
+	if isAdmin && len(members) <= 1 {
+		c.JSON(http.StatusConflict, gin.H{"error": "cannot delete the last admin"})
+		return
+	}

 	// Destroy vault and personal BYOK keys before deleting the user row
 	h.destroyVault(c, id)
--- a/server/handlers/auth.go
+++ b/server/handlers/auth.go
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ const bcryptCost = 12
 type Claims struct {
 	UserID string `json:"user_id"`
 	Email  string `json:"email"`
-	Role   string `json:"role"`
 	jwt.RegisteredClaims
 }

@@ -295,7 +294,6 @@ func (h *AuthHandler) generateTokens(user *models.User) (gin.H, error) {
 	accessClaims := Claims{
 		UserID: user.ID,
 		Email:  user.Email,
-		Role:   user.Role,
 		RegisteredClaims: jwt.RegisteredClaims{
 			ExpiresAt: jwt.NewNumericDate(time.Now().Add(15 * time.Minute)),
 			IssuedAt:  jwt.NewNumericDate(time.Now()),
@@ -327,7 +325,6 @@ func (h *AuthHandler) generateTokens(user *models.User) (gin.H, error) {
 			"username":     user.Username,
 			"email":        user.Email,
 			"display_name": user.DisplayName,
-			"role":         user.Role,
 			"handle":       user.Handle,
 			"auth_source":  user.AuthSource,
 		},
@@ -489,10 +486,9 @@ func BootstrapAdmin(cfg *config.Config, s store.Stores, uekCache ...*crypto.UEKC

 	existing, _ := s.Users.GetByUsername(ctx, cfg.AdminUsername)
 	if existing != nil {
-		// Update password and ensure admin role
+		// Update password
 		s.Users.Update(ctx, existing.ID, map[string]interface{}{
 			"password_hash": string(hash),
-			"role":          models.UserRoleAdmin,
 			"is_active":     true,
 		})
 		// If the actual password changed, the vault seal is stale. Probe it
@@ -507,6 +503,8 @@ func BootstrapAdmin(cfg *config.Config, s store.Stores, uekCache ...*crypto.UEKC
 			cache = uekCache[0]
 		}
 		ProbeAndRepairVault(ctx, s, existing.ID, cfg.AdminPassword, cache)
+		auth.EnsureEveryoneGroup(ctx, s, existing.ID)
+		auth.AddToAdminsGroup(ctx, s, existing.ID)
 		log.Printf("  ✅ Admin user '%s' updated", cfg.AdminUsername)
 		return
 	}
@@ -521,7 +519,6 @@ func BootstrapAdmin(cfg *config.Config, s store.Stores, uekCache ...*crypto.UEKC
 		Username:     strings.ToLower(cfg.AdminUsername),
 		Email:        strings.ToLower(email),
 		PasswordHash: string(hash),
-		Role:         models.UserRoleAdmin,
 		IsActive:     true,
 		AuthSource:   "builtin",
 		Handle:       handle,
@@ -531,12 +528,14 @@ func BootstrapAdmin(cfg *config.Config, s store.Stores, uekCache ...*crypto.UEKC
 		log.Printf("⚠ Failed to create admin user: %v", err)
 		return
 	}
+	auth.EnsureEveryoneGroup(ctx, s, user.ID)
+	auth.AddToAdminsGroup(ctx, s, user.ID)
 	log.Printf("  ✅ Admin user '%s' created", cfg.AdminUsername)
 }

 // SeedUsers creates or updates users from the SEED_USERS env var.
-// Format: "user:pass:role,user2:pass2:role2" where role is "admin" or "user".
-// Upsert: existing users get their password and role refreshed on every restart.
+// Format: "user:pass[:admin],user2:pass2" — third field "admin" adds to Admins group.
+// Upsert: existing users get their password refreshed on every restart.
 // Gated to non-production environments.
 func SeedUsers(cfg *config.Config, s store.Stores, uekCache ...*crypto.UEKCache) {
 	if cfg.SeedUsers == "" {
@@ -561,16 +560,13 @@ func SeedUsers(cfg *config.Config, s store.Stores, uekCache ...*crypto.UEKCache)

 		parts := strings.SplitN(entry, ":", 3)
 		if len(parts) < 2 {
-			log.Printf("⚠ Seed user skipped (bad format, want user:pass[:role]): %q", entry)
+			log.Printf("⚠ Seed user skipped (bad format, want user:pass[:admin]): %q", entry)
 			continue
 		}

 		username := strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(parts[0]))
 		password := strings.TrimSpace(parts[1])
-		role := models.UserRoleUser
-		if len(parts) >= 3 && strings.TrimSpace(parts[2]) == "admin" {
-			role = models.UserRoleAdmin
-		}
+		isAdmin := len(parts) >= 3 && strings.TrimSpace(parts[2]) == "admin"

 		if username == "" || password == "" {
 			log.Printf("⚠ Seed user skipped (empty username or password)")
@@ -583,15 +579,13 @@ func SeedUsers(cfg *config.Config, s store.Stores, uekCache ...*crypto.UEKCache)
 			continue
 		}

-		// Upsert: update password+role if user exists, create if not
+		// Upsert: update password if user exists, create if not
 		existing, _ := s.Users.GetByUsername(ctx, username)
 		if existing != nil {
 			s.Users.Update(ctx, existing.ID, map[string]interface{}{
 				"password_hash": string(hash),
-				"role":          role,
 				"is_active":     true,
 			})
-			// Probe vault with current password — only destroys if seal is stale
 			if existing.Handle == "" {
 				handle := auth.UniqueHandle(ctx, s.Users, models.HandleFromName(username))
 				s.Users.Update(ctx, existing.ID, map[string]interface{}{"handle": handle})
@@ -601,7 +595,11 @@ func SeedUsers(cfg *config.Config, s store.Stores, uekCache ...*crypto.UEKCache)
 				cache = uekCache[0]
 			}
 			ProbeAndRepairVault(ctx, s, existing.ID, password, cache)
-			log.Printf("  🌱 Seed user '%s' updated (role=%s)", username, role)
+			auth.EnsureEveryoneGroup(ctx, s, existing.ID)
+			if isAdmin {
+				auth.AddToAdminsGroup(ctx, s, existing.ID)
+			}
+			log.Printf("  🌱 Seed user '%s' updated (admin=%v)", username, isAdmin)
 			continue
 		}

@@ -610,7 +608,6 @@ func SeedUsers(cfg *config.Config, s store.Stores, uekCache ...*crypto.UEKCache)
 			Username:     username,
 			Email:        username + "@switchboard.local",
 			PasswordHash: string(hash),
-			Role:         role,
 			IsActive:     true,
 			AuthSource:   "builtin",
 			Handle:       handle,
@@ -620,7 +617,11 @@ func SeedUsers(cfg *config.Config, s store.Stores, uekCache ...*crypto.UEKCache)
 			log.Printf("⚠ Seed user '%s' failed: %v", username, err)
 			continue
 		}
-		log.Printf("  🌱 Seed user '%s' created (role=%s, active=true)", username, role)
+		auth.EnsureEveryoneGroup(ctx, s, user.ID)
+		if isAdmin {
+			auth.AddToAdminsGroup(ctx, s, user.ID)
+		}
+		log.Printf("  🌱 Seed user '%s' created (admin=%v, active=true)", username, isAdmin)
 	}
 }

--- a/server/handlers/auth_test.go
+++ b/server/handlers/auth_test.go
@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@ func TestJWTGeneration(t *testing.T) {
 	claims := Claims{
 		UserID: "550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000",
 		Email:  "test@example.com",
-		Role:   "user",
 		RegisteredClaims: jwt.RegisteredClaims{
 			IssuedAt:  jwt.NewNumericDate(now),
 			ExpiresAt: jwt.NewNumericDate(now.Add(15 * time.Minute)),
@@ -75,9 +74,6 @@ func TestJWTGeneration(t *testing.T) {
 	if parsed.Email != claims.Email {
 		t.Errorf("Email mismatch: got %s, want %s", parsed.Email, claims.Email)
 	}
-	if parsed.Role != claims.Role {
-		t.Errorf("Role mismatch: got %s, want %s", parsed.Role, claims.Role)
-	}
 }

 func TestJWTExpired(t *testing.T) {
@@ -86,7 +82,6 @@ func TestJWTExpired(t *testing.T) {
 	claims := Claims{
 		UserID: "test-user",
 		Email:  "test@example.com",
-		Role:   "user",
 		RegisteredClaims: jwt.RegisteredClaims{
 			IssuedAt:  jwt.NewNumericDate(time.Now().Add(-1 * time.Hour)),
 			ExpiresAt: jwt.NewNumericDate(time.Now().Add(-30 * time.Minute)),
@@ -109,7 +104,6 @@ func TestJWTWrongSecret(t *testing.T) {
 	claims := Claims{
 		UserID: "test-user",
 		Email:  "test@example.com",
-		Role:   "user",
 		RegisteredClaims: jwt.RegisteredClaims{
 			ExpiresAt: jwt.NewNumericDate(time.Now().Add(15 * time.Minute)),
 		},
--- a/server/handlers/extension_test.go
+++ b/server/handlers/extension_test.go
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ func setupExtensionHarness(t *testing.T) *extensionHarness {

 	// Admin extension endpoints
 	admin := api.Group("/admin")
-	admin.Use(middleware.Auth(cfg, stores.Users, userCache), middleware.RequireAdmin())
+	admin.Use(middleware.Auth(cfg, stores.Users, userCache), middleware.RequireAdmin(stores))
 	admin.GET("/extensions", extH.AdminListExtensions)
 	admin.POST("/extensions", extH.AdminInstallExtension)
 	admin.PUT("/extensions/:id", extH.AdminUpdateExtension)
@@ -81,16 +81,19 @@ func setupExtensionHarness(t *testing.T) *extensionHarness {

 	// Seed admin user
 	adminID := seedInsertReturningID(t,
-		`INSERT INTO users (username, email, password_hash, role, handle, auth_source) VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $6) RETURNING id`,
-		"ext-admin", "ext-admin@test.com", "$2a$10$test", "admin", "ext-admin", "builtin",
+		`INSERT INTO users (username, email, password_hash, handle, auth_source) VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5) RETURNING id`,
+		"ext-admin", "ext-admin@test.com", "$2a$10$test", "ext-admin", "builtin",
 	)
+	database.SeedEveryoneGroupMember(t, adminID)
+	database.SeedAdminsGroupMember(t, adminID)
 	adminToken := makeToken(adminID, "ext-admin@test.com", "admin")

 	// Seed regular user
 	userID := seedInsertReturningID(t,
-		`INSERT INTO users (username, email, password_hash, role, handle, auth_source) VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $6) RETURNING id`,
-		"ext-user", "ext-user@test.com", "$2a$10$test", "user", "ext-user", "builtin",
+		`INSERT INTO users (username, email, password_hash, handle, auth_source) VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5) RETURNING id`,
+		"ext-user", "ext-user@test.com", "$2a$10$test", "ext-user", "builtin",
 	)
+	database.SeedEveryoneGroupMember(t, userID)
 	userToken := makeToken(userID, "ext-user@test.com", "user")

 	return &extensionHarness{
--- a/server/handlers/groups.go
+++ b/server/handlers/groups.go
@@ -25,15 +25,9 @@ type createGroupRequest struct {
 }

 type updateGroupRequest struct {
-	Name               *string   `json:"name,omitempty"`
-	Description        *string   `json:"description,omitempty"`
-	Permissions        *[]string `json:"permissions,omitempty"`
-	TokenBudgetDaily   *int64    `json:"token_budget_daily,omitempty"`
-	TokenBudgetMonthly *int64    `json:"token_budget_monthly,omitempty"`
-	AllowedModels      *[]string `json:"allowed_models,omitempty"`
-	ClearBudgetDaily   bool      `json:"clear_budget_daily,omitempty"`
-	ClearBudgetMonthly bool      `json:"clear_budget_monthly,omitempty"`
-	ClearAllowedModels bool      `json:"clear_allowed_models,omitempty"`
+	Name        *string   `json:"name,omitempty"`
+	Description *string   `json:"description,omitempty"`
+	Permissions *[]string `json:"permissions,omitempty"`
 }

 type addGroupMemberRequest struct {
@@ -144,15 +138,9 @@ func (h *GroupHandler) UpdateGroup(c *gin.Context) {
 	}

 	patch := models.GroupPatch{
-		Name:               req.Name,
-		Description:        req.Description,
-		Permissions:        req.Permissions,
-		TokenBudgetDaily:   req.TokenBudgetDaily,
-		TokenBudgetMonthly: req.TokenBudgetMonthly,
-		AllowedModels:      req.AllowedModels,
-		ClearBudgetDaily:   req.ClearBudgetDaily,
-		ClearBudgetMonthly: req.ClearBudgetMonthly,
-		ClearAllowedModels: req.ClearAllowedModels,
+		Name:        req.Name,
+		Description: req.Description,
+		Permissions: req.Permissions,
 	}

 	// Validate permissions if provided
--- a/server/handlers/notification_test.go
+++ b/server/handlers/notification_test.go
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ func setupNotifHarness(t *testing.T) *notifHarness {
 	// Admin broadcast route (v0.28.6)
 	admin := api.Group("/admin")
 	admin.Use(middleware.Auth(cfg, stores.Users, userCache))
-	admin.Use(middleware.RequireAdmin())
+	admin.Use(middleware.RequireAdmin(stores))
 	admin.POST("/notifications/broadcast", notifH.Broadcast)

 	// Set up notification service singleton for Broadcast handler
@@ -74,7 +74,8 @@ func setupNotifHarness(t *testing.T) *notifHarness {

 	// Seed admin
 	adminID := database.SeedTestUser(t, "notif-admin", "notif-admin@test.com")
-	database.TestDB.Exec(dialectSQL("UPDATE users SET role = 'admin', is_active = true WHERE id = $1"), adminID)
+	database.TestDB.Exec(dialectSQL("UPDATE users SET is_active = true WHERE id = $1"), adminID)
+	database.SeedAdminsGroupMember(t, adminID)
 	adminToken := makeToken(adminID, "notif-admin@test.com", "admin")

 	// Seed regular user
--- a/server/handlers/profile_bootstrap.go
+++ b/server/handlers/profile_bootstrap.go
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@ func NewProfileBootstrapHandler(s store.Stores) *ProfileBootstrapHandler {
 // GET /api/v1/profile/bootstrap
 func (h *ProfileBootstrapHandler) GetBootstrap(c *gin.Context) {
 	userID := getUserID(c)
-	role, _ := c.Get("role")
 	ctx := c.Request.Context()

 	// ── User profile ────────────────────────
@@ -48,27 +47,20 @@ func (h *ProfileBootstrapHandler) GetBootstrap(c *gin.Context) {
 		"username":     user.Username,
 		"display_name": user.DisplayName,
 		"email":        user.Email,
-		"role":         user.Role,
 	}
 	if user.AvatarURL != "" {
 		userPayload["avatar"] = user.AvatarURL
 	}

 	// ── Permissions ─────────────────────────
-	var permList []string
-	if role == "admin" {
-		permList = make([]string, len(auth.AllPermissions))
-		copy(permList, auth.AllPermissions)
-	} else {
-		perms, err := auth.ResolvePermissions(ctx, h.stores, userID)
-		if err != nil {
-			c.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, gin.H{"error": "failed to resolve permissions"})
-			return
-		}
-		permList = make([]string, 0, len(perms))
-		for p := range perms {
-			permList = append(permList, p)
-		}
+	perms, err := auth.ResolvePermissions(ctx, h.stores, userID)
+	if err != nil {
+		c.JSON(http.StatusInternalServerError, gin.H{"error": "failed to resolve permissions"})
+		return
+	}
+	permList := make([]string, 0, len(perms))
+	for p := range perms {
+		permList = append(permList, p)
 	}
 	sort.Strings(permList)

@@ -77,7 +69,6 @@ func (h *ProfileBootstrapHandler) GetBootstrap(c *gin.Context) {
 	if groupIDs == nil {
 		groupIDs = []string{}
 	}
-	groupIDs = append(groupIDs, auth.EveryoneGroupID)

 	// ── Teams ───────────────────────────────
 	teams, _ := h.stores.Teams.ListForUser(ctx, userID)
--- a/server/handlers/settings.go
+++ b/server/handlers/settings.go
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@ type profileResponse struct {
 	Username    string                 `json:"username"`
 	Email       string                 `json:"email"`
 	DisplayName *string                `json:"display_name"`
-	Role        string                 `json:"role"`
 	Avatar      *string                `json:"avatar,omitempty"`
 	Settings    map[string]interface{} `json:"settings"`
 	CreatedAt   time.Time              `json:"created_at"`
@@ -84,7 +83,6 @@ func (h *SettingsHandler) GetProfile(c *gin.Context) {
 		Username:    user.Username,
 		Email:       user.Email,
 		DisplayName: dn,
-		Role:        user.Role,
 		Avatar:      avatar,
 		Settings:    settings,
 		CreatedAt:   user.CreatedAt,
--- a/server/handlers/test_helpers_test.go
+++ b/server/handlers/test_helpers_test.go
@@ -41,11 +41,10 @@ func (h *testHarness) request(method, path, token string, body interface{}) *htt
 	return w
 }

-func makeToken(userID, email, role string) string {
+func makeToken(userID, email, _ string) string {
 	claims := Claims{
 		UserID: userID,
 		Email:  email,
-		Role:   role,
 		RegisteredClaims: jwt.RegisteredClaims{
 			IssuedAt:  jwt.NewNumericDate(time.Now()),
 			ExpiresAt: jwt.NewNumericDate(time.Now().Add(15 * time.Minute)),
--- a/server/main.go
+++ b/server/main.go
@@ -287,7 +287,6 @@ func main() {
 			HeaderFingerprint: cfg.MTLSHeaderFingerprint,
 			AutoActivate:      cfg.MTLSAutoActivate,
 			DefaultTeam:       cfg.MTLSDefaultTeam,
-			DefaultRole:       cfg.MTLSDefaultRole,
 		})
 	case auth.ModeOIDC:
 		var err error
@@ -299,7 +298,6 @@ func main() {
 			RedirectURL:        cfg.OIDCRedirectURL,
 			AutoActivate:       cfg.OIDCAutoActivate,
 			DefaultTeam:        cfg.OIDCDefaultTeam,
-			DefaultRole:        cfg.OIDCDefaultRole,
 			RolesClaim:         cfg.OIDCRolesClaim,
 			GroupsClaim:        cfg.OIDCGroupsClaim,
 			AdminRole:          cfg.OIDCAdminRole,
@@ -513,7 +511,7 @@ func main() {
 		// ── Admin routes ────────────────────────
 		admin := api.Group("/admin")
 		admin.Use(middleware.Auth(cfg, stores.Users, userCache))
-		admin.Use(middleware.RequireAdmin())
+		admin.Use(middleware.RequireAdmin(stores))
 		admin.Use(middleware.ValidatePathParams())
 		{
 			adm := handlers.NewAdminHandler(stores, keyResolver, uekCache, objStore)
@@ -693,7 +691,7 @@ func main() {
 		Authenticated: middleware.AuthOrRedirect(cfg, stores.Users, userCache),
 		Admin: []gin.HandlerFunc{
 			middleware.AuthOrRedirect(cfg, stores.Users, userCache),
-			middleware.RequireAdminPage(),
+			middleware.RequireAdminPage(stores),
 		},
 		Session: middleware.AuthOrRedirect(cfg, stores.Users, userCache), // TODO: session middleware for workflow visitors (v0.2.0)
 	})
--- a/server/middleware/admin.go
+++ b/server/middleware/admin.go
@@ -4,14 +4,19 @@ import (
 	"net/http"

 	"github.com/gin-gonic/gin"
+
+	"switchboard-core/auth"
+	"switchboard-core/store"
 )

-// RequireAdmin returns middleware that restricts access to admin users.
-// Must be used after Auth() middleware which sets "role" in context.
-func RequireAdmin() gin.HandlerFunc {
+// RequireAdmin returns middleware that restricts access to users with the
+// surface.admin.access permission (i.e. members of the Admins group).
+// Must be used after Auth() middleware which sets "user_id" in context.
+func RequireAdmin(stores store.Stores) gin.HandlerFunc {
 	return func(c *gin.Context) {
-		role, exists := c.Get("role")
-		if !exists || role != "admin" {
+		userID := c.GetString("user_id")
+		perms, err := resolveAndCachePerms(c, stores, userID)
+		if err != nil || !perms[auth.PermSurfaceAdminAccess] {
 			c.AbortWithStatusJSON(http.StatusForbidden, gin.H{
 				"error": "admin access required",
 			})
--- a/server/middleware/auth.go
+++ b/server/middleware/auth.go
@@ -20,19 +20,17 @@ import (
 type Claims struct {
 	UserID string `json:"user_id"`
 	Email  string `json:"email"`
-	Role   string `json:"role"`
 	jwt.RegisteredClaims
 }

 // ─── User Status Cache ──────────────────────────────────────
-// Short-TTL cache so deactivation and role changes take effect
-// within seconds, without a DB query on every single request.
+// Short-TTL cache so deactivation takes effect within seconds,
+// without a DB query on every single request.

 const userCacheTTL = 30 * time.Second

 type userCacheEntry struct {
 	isActive  bool
-	role      string
 	fetchedAt time.Time
 }

@@ -64,9 +62,9 @@ func (c *UserStatusCache) get(userID string) (userCacheEntry, bool) {
 	return e, true
 }

-func (c *UserStatusCache) set(userID string, active bool, role string) {
+func (c *UserStatusCache) set(userID string, active bool) {
 	c.mu.Lock()
-	c.entries[userID] = userCacheEntry{isActive: active, role: role, fetchedAt: time.Now()}
+	c.entries[userID] = userCacheEntry{isActive: active, fetchedAt: time.Now()}
 	c.mu.Unlock()
 }

@@ -90,44 +88,43 @@ func (c *UserStatusCache) evictExpired() {

 // ─── Shared user verification ───────────────────────────────

-// verifyUser checks is_active and resolves the current DB role.
-// Returns (role, nil) on success or ("", error-already-sent) on failure.
-// Callers must abort the request on error.
-func verifyUser(c *gin.Context, claims *Claims, users store.UserStore, cache *UserStatusCache) (string, bool) {
+// verifyUser checks that the user exists and is active.
+// Returns true on success or false (with error already sent) on failure.
+func verifyUser(c *gin.Context, claims *Claims, users store.UserStore, cache *UserStatusCache) bool {
 	userID := claims.UserID
 	if userID == "" {
 		c.AbortWithStatusJSON(http.StatusUnauthorized, gin.H{"error": "invalid token (empty user_id)"})
-		return "", false
+		return false
 	}
 	return verifyUserByID(c, userID, users, cache)
 }

-// verifyUserByID checks is_active and resolves the current DB role for a user ID.
+// verifyUserByID checks is_active for a user ID.
 // Used by both JWT auth (via verifyUser) and ticket auth.
-func verifyUserByID(c *gin.Context, userID string, users store.UserStore, cache *UserStatusCache) (string, bool) {
+func verifyUserByID(c *gin.Context, userID string, users store.UserStore, cache *UserStatusCache) bool {
 	// Cache hit
 	if entry, ok := cache.get(userID); ok {
 		if !entry.isActive {
 			c.AbortWithStatusJSON(http.StatusUnauthorized, gin.H{"error": "account deactivated"})
-			return "", false
+			return false
 		}
-		return entry.role, true
+		return true
 	}

 	// Cache miss → DB lookup
 	user, err := users.GetByID(c.Request.Context(), userID)
 	if err != nil {
 		c.AbortWithStatusJSON(http.StatusUnauthorized, gin.H{"error": "user not found"})
-		return "", false
+		return false
 	}

-	cache.set(userID, user.IsActive, user.Role)
+	cache.set(userID, user.IsActive)

 	if !user.IsActive {
 		c.AbortWithStatusJSON(http.StatusUnauthorized, gin.H{"error": "account deactivated"})
-		return "", false
+		return false
 	}
-	return user.Role, true
+	return true
 }

 // parseAndValidateJWT parses a raw JWT string and returns claims if valid.
@@ -188,15 +185,13 @@ func Auth(cfg *config.Config, users store.UserStore, cache *UserStatusCache) gin
 			return
 		}

-		// Verify user is active and resolve current role from DB
-		role, ok := verifyUser(c, claims, users, cache)
-		if !ok {
-			return // verifyUser already sent the error response
+		// Verify user is active
+		if !verifyUser(c, claims, users, cache) {
+			return
 		}

 		c.Set("user_id", claims.UserID)
 		c.Set("email", claims.Email)
-		c.Set("role", role) // from DB, not JWT claims
 		c.Next()
 	}
 }
@@ -304,14 +299,11 @@ func WsAuth(cfg *config.Config, users store.UserStore, cache *UserStatusCache, t
 				return
 			}

-			// Ticket is valid — resolve role from DB (same as JWT path)
-			role, ok := verifyUserByID(c, userID, users, cache)
-			if !ok {
+			if !verifyUserByID(c, userID, users, cache) {
 				return
 			}

 			c.Set("user_id", userID)
-			c.Set("role", role)
 			c.Set("ws_auth", "ticket")
 			c.Next()
 			return
@@ -329,14 +321,12 @@ func WsAuth(cfg *config.Config, users store.UserStore, cache *UserStatusCache, t
 				return
 			}

-			role, ok := verifyUser(c, claims, users, cache)
-			if !ok {
+			if !verifyUser(c, claims, users, cache) {
 				return
 			}

 			c.Set("user_id", claims.UserID)
 			c.Set("email", claims.Email)
-			c.Set("role", role)
 			c.Set("ws_auth", "token_legacy")
 			c.Next()
 			return
@@ -367,14 +357,12 @@ func WsAuth(cfg *config.Config, users store.UserStore, cache *UserStatusCache, t
 			return
 		}

-		role, ok := verifyUser(c, claims, users, cache)
-		if !ok {
+		if !verifyUser(c, claims, users, cache) {
 			return
 		}

 		c.Set("user_id", claims.UserID)
 		c.Set("email", claims.Email)
-		c.Set("role", role)
 		c.Set("ws_auth", "bearer")
 		c.Next()
 	}
--- a/server/middleware/page_auth.go
+++ b/server/middleware/page_auth.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (

 	"github.com/gin-gonic/gin"

+	"switchboard-core/auth"
 	"switchboard-core/config"
 	"switchboard-core/database"
 	"switchboard-core/store"
@@ -60,37 +61,34 @@ func AuthOrRedirect(cfg *config.Config, users store.UserStore, cache *UserStatus
 			return
 		}

-		// Resolve user role — redirect (not JSON) on any failure.
-		var role string
+		// Check user is active — redirect (not JSON) on failure.
 		if entry, hit := cache.get(claims.UserID); hit {
 			if !entry.isActive {
 				redirectToLogin(c, loginPath)
 				return
 			}
-			role = entry.role
 		} else {
 			user, err := users.GetByID(c.Request.Context(), claims.UserID)
 			if err != nil || !user.IsActive {
 				redirectToLogin(c, loginPath)
 				return
 			}
-			cache.set(claims.UserID, user.IsActive, user.Role)
-			role = user.Role
+			cache.set(claims.UserID, user.IsActive)
 		}

 		c.Set("user_id", claims.UserID)
 		c.Set("email", claims.Email)
-		c.Set("role", role)
 		c.Next()
 	}
 }

-// RequireAdminPage aborts with 403 if the user isn't an admin.
+// RequireAdminPage aborts with 403 if the user lacks surface.admin.access.
 // Use after AuthOrRedirect for admin-only page routes.
-func RequireAdminPage() gin.HandlerFunc {
+func RequireAdminPage(stores store.Stores) gin.HandlerFunc {
 	return func(c *gin.Context) {
-		role, _ := c.Get("role")
-		if role != "admin" {
+		userID := c.GetString("user_id")
+		perms, err := resolveAndCachePerms(c, stores, userID)
+		if err != nil || !perms[auth.PermSurfaceAdminAccess] {
 			c.String(http.StatusForbidden, "Admin access required")
 			c.Abort()
 			return
--- a/server/middleware/permissions.go
+++ b/server/middleware/permissions.go
@@ -12,17 +12,11 @@ import (
 const permCacheKey = "resolved_permissions"

 // RequirePermission returns middleware that enforces a named permission.
-// Admin users bypass the check entirely. Permission resolution is cached in
-// the request context — computed at most once per request regardless of how
-// many RequirePermission middlewares are chained.
+// Permission resolution is cached in the request context — computed at most
+// once per request regardless of how many RequirePermission middlewares are
+// chained. Admins receive permissions through the Admins group.
 func RequirePermission(perm string, stores store.Stores) gin.HandlerFunc {
 	return func(c *gin.Context) {
-		role, _ := c.Get("role")
-		if role == "admin" {
-			c.Next()
-			return
-		}
-
 		userID := c.GetString("user_id")
 		perms, err := resolveAndCachePerms(c, stores, userID)
 		if err != nil || !perms[perm] {
--- a/server/models/models.go
+++ b/server/models/models.go
@@ -23,12 +23,9 @@ const (
 	ScopePersonal = "personal"
 )

-// ── Role Constants ──────────────────────────
+// ── Team Role Constants ─────────────────────

 const (
-	UserRoleUser  = "user"
-	UserRoleAdmin = "admin"
-
 	TeamRoleAdmin  = "admin"
 	TeamRoleMember = "member"
 )
@@ -48,7 +45,6 @@ type User struct {
 	PasswordHash string     `json:"-" db:"password_hash"`
 	DisplayName  string     `json:"display_name,omitempty" db:"display_name"`
 	AvatarURL    string     `json:"avatar_url,omitempty" db:"avatar_url"`
-	Role         string     `json:"role" db:"role"`
 	IsActive     bool       `json:"is_active" db:"is_active"`
 	Settings     JSONMap    `json:"settings,omitempty" db:"settings"`
 	LastLoginAt  *time.Time `json:"last_login_at,omitempty" db:"last_login_at"`
@@ -316,24 +312,15 @@ type Group struct {
 	TeamID             *string  `json:"team_id,omitempty" db:"team_id"`
 	CreatedBy          *string  `json:"created_by,omitempty" db:"created_by"`
 	Source             string   `json:"source" db:"source"`    // manual (default), oidc, system
-	Permissions        []string `json:"permissions" db:"permissions"`
-	TokenBudgetDaily   *int64   `json:"token_budget_daily,omitempty" db:"token_budget_daily"`
-	TokenBudgetMonthly *int64   `json:"token_budget_monthly,omitempty" db:"token_budget_monthly"`
-	AllowedModels      []string `json:"allowed_models,omitempty" db:"allowed_models"` // nil = unrestricted
-	MemberCount        int      `json:"member_count,omitempty"` // computed, not a DB column
+	Permissions []string `json:"permissions" db:"permissions"`
+	MemberCount int      `json:"member_count,omitempty"` // computed, not a DB column
 }

 // GroupPatch holds optional fields for updating a group.
 type GroupPatch struct {
-	Name               *string   `json:"name,omitempty"`
-	Description        *string   `json:"description,omitempty"`
-	Permissions        *[]string `json:"permissions,omitempty"`
-	TokenBudgetDaily   *int64    `json:"token_budget_daily,omitempty"`
-	TokenBudgetMonthly *int64    `json:"token_budget_monthly,omitempty"`
-	AllowedModels      *[]string `json:"allowed_models,omitempty"` // &[]string{} = restrict to none; nil = no change
-	ClearBudgetDaily   bool      `json:"clear_budget_daily,omitempty"`
-	ClearBudgetMonthly bool      `json:"clear_budget_monthly,omitempty"`
-	ClearAllowedModels bool      `json:"clear_allowed_models,omitempty"`
+	Name        *string   `json:"name,omitempty"`
+	Description *string   `json:"description,omitempty"`
+	Permissions *[]string `json:"permissions,omitempty"`
 }

 // GroupMember links a user to a group.
--- a/server/notifications/sources.go
+++ b/server/notifications/sources.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"log"

+	"switchboard-core/auth"
 	"switchboard-core/events"
 	"switchboard-core/models"
 	"switchboard-core/store"
@@ -44,26 +45,23 @@ func RoleFallbackHandler(svc *Service, stores store.Stores) events.Handler {
 			body = fmt.Sprintf("Primary model error: %s", p.Error)
 		}

-		// Notify all admin users
+		// Notify all Admins group members
 		ctx := context.Background()
-		admins, _, err := stores.Users.List(ctx, store.ListOptions{Limit: 500})
+		admins, err := stores.Groups.ListMembers(ctx, auth.AdminsGroupID)
 		if err != nil {
-			log.Printf("[notifications] failed to list users for role.fallback: %v", err)
+			log.Printf("[notifications] failed to list admins for role.fallback: %v", err)
 			return
 		}

 		for _, u := range admins {
-			if u.Role != "admin" {
-				continue
-			}
 			n := models.Notification{
-				UserID: u.ID,
+				UserID: u.UserID,
 				Type:   models.NotifTypeRoleFallback,
 				Title:  title,
 				Body:   body,
 			}
 			if err := svc.Notify(ctx, &n); err != nil {
-				log.Printf("[notifications] failed to create role.fallback notification for %s: %v", u.ID, err)
+				log.Printf("[notifications] failed to create role.fallback notification for %s: %v", u.UserID, err)
 			}
 		}
 	}
--- a/server/store/interfaces.go
+++ b/server/store/interfaces.go
@@ -93,9 +93,6 @@ type UserStore interface {

 	// ── CS2 additions (v0.29.0) ──

-	// CountByRole returns the number of users with a given role.
-	CountByRole(ctx context.Context, role string) (int, error)
-
 	// CountAll returns the total number of users.
 	CountAll(ctx context.Context) (int, error)

--- a/server/store/postgres/groups.go
+++ b/server/store/postgres/groups.go
@@ -43,17 +43,14 @@ func (s *GroupStore) GetByID(ctx context.Context, id string) (*models.Group, err
 		       g.created_at, g.updated_at,
 		       (SELECT COUNT(*) FROM group_members WHERE group_id = g.id) AS member_count,
 		       COALESCE(g.source, 'manual'),
-		       COALESCE(g.permissions, '[]'::jsonb),
-		       g.token_budget_daily,
-		       g.token_budget_monthly,
-		       g.allowed_models
+		       COALESCE(g.permissions, '[]'::jsonb)
 		FROM groups g WHERE g.id = $1`, id)
 	return scanGroup(row)
 }

 // Update applies a patch to a group.
-// The Everyone group (source=system) allows permission/budget edits but not
-// name, description, or structural changes — those fields are silently ignored.
+// System groups (source=system) allow permission edits but not name,
+// description, or structural changes — those fields are silently ignored.
 func (s *GroupStore) Update(ctx context.Context, id string, patch models.GroupPatch) error {
 	var source string
 	if err := DB.QueryRowContext(ctx, "SELECT source FROM groups WHERE id = $1", id).Scan(&source); err != nil {
@@ -76,25 +73,6 @@ func (s *GroupStore) Update(ctx context.Context, id string, patch models.GroupPa
 		}
 		b.Set("permissions", permsJSON)
 	}
-	if patch.ClearBudgetDaily {
-		b.SetNull("token_budget_daily")
-	} else if patch.TokenBudgetDaily != nil {
-		b.Set("token_budget_daily", *patch.TokenBudgetDaily)
-	}
-	if patch.ClearBudgetMonthly {
-		b.SetNull("token_budget_monthly")
-	} else if patch.TokenBudgetMonthly != nil {
-		b.Set("token_budget_monthly", *patch.TokenBudgetMonthly)
-	}
-	if patch.ClearAllowedModels {
-		b.SetNull("allowed_models")
-	} else if patch.AllowedModels != nil {
-		modelsJSON, err := json.Marshal(*patch.AllowedModels)
-		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("marshal allowed_models: %w", err)
-		}
-		b.Set("allowed_models", modelsJSON)
-	}
 	if !b.HasSets() {
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -138,10 +116,7 @@ const groupSelectCols = `
 	g.created_at, g.updated_at,
 	(SELECT COUNT(*) FROM group_members WHERE group_id = g.id) AS member_count,
 	COALESCE(g.source, 'manual'),
-	COALESCE(g.permissions, '[]'::jsonb),
-	g.token_budget_daily,
-	g.token_budget_monthly,
-	g.allowed_models`
+	COALESCE(g.permissions, '[]'::jsonb)`

 func (s *GroupStore) ListAll(ctx context.Context) ([]models.Group, error) {
 	return queryGroups(ctx, `SELECT`+groupSelectCols+`
@@ -250,28 +225,17 @@ func scanGroup(row groupScanner) (*models.Group, error) {
 	var teamID sql.NullString
 	var createdBy sql.NullString
 	var permsJSON []byte
-	var budgetDaily, budgetMonthly sql.NullInt64
-	var allowedJSON []byte

 	if err := row.Scan(
 		&g.ID, &g.Name, &g.Description, &g.Scope, &teamID, &createdBy,
 		&g.CreatedAt, &g.UpdatedAt, &g.MemberCount, &g.Source,
-		&permsJSON, &budgetDaily, &budgetMonthly, &allowedJSON,
+		&permsJSON,
 	); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	g.TeamID = NullableStringPtr(teamID)
 	g.CreatedBy = NullableStringPtr(createdBy)
 	g.Permissions = unmarshalStringSlice(permsJSON)
-	if budgetDaily.Valid {
-		g.TokenBudgetDaily = &budgetDaily.Int64
-	}
-	if budgetMonthly.Valid {
-		g.TokenBudgetMonthly = &budgetMonthly.Int64
-	}
-	if len(allowedJSON) > 0 && string(allowedJSON) != "null" {
-		g.AllowedModels = unmarshalStringSlice(allowedJSON)
-	}
 	return &g, nil
 }

@@ -288,28 +252,17 @@ func queryGroups(ctx context.Context, q string, args ...interface{}) ([]models.G
 		var teamID sql.NullString
 		var createdBy sql.NullString
 		var permsJSON []byte
-		var budgetDaily, budgetMonthly sql.NullInt64
-		var allowedJSON []byte

 		if err := rows.Scan(
 			&g.ID, &g.Name, &g.Description, &g.Scope, &teamID, &createdBy,
 			&g.CreatedAt, &g.UpdatedAt, &g.MemberCount, &g.Source,
-			&permsJSON, &budgetDaily, &budgetMonthly, &allowedJSON,
+			&permsJSON,
 		); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 		g.TeamID = NullableStringPtr(teamID)
 		g.CreatedBy = NullableStringPtr(createdBy)
 		g.Permissions = unmarshalStringSlice(permsJSON)
-		if budgetDaily.Valid {
-			g.TokenBudgetDaily = &budgetDaily.Int64
-		}
-		if budgetMonthly.Valid {
-			g.TokenBudgetMonthly = &budgetMonthly.Int64
-		}
-		if len(allowedJSON) > 0 && string(allowedJSON) != "null" {
-			g.AllowedModels = unmarshalStringSlice(allowedJSON)
-		}
 		result = append(result, g)
 	}
 	return result, rows.Err()
--- a/server/store/postgres/user.go
+++ b/server/store/postgres/user.go
@@ -16,10 +16,10 @@ type UserStore struct{}
 func NewUserStore() *UserStore { return &UserStore{} }

 const userCols = `id, username, email, password_hash, display_name, avatar_url,
-	role, is_active, settings, created_at, updated_at, last_login_at,
+	is_active, settings, created_at, updated_at, last_login_at,
 	auth_source, external_id, handle`

-const userListCols = `id, username, email, display_name, avatar_url, role, is_active,
+const userListCols = `id, username, email, display_name, avatar_url, is_active,
 	settings, created_at, updated_at, last_login_at, auth_source, external_id, handle`

 func (s *UserStore) Create(ctx context.Context, u *models.User) error {
@@ -27,10 +27,10 @@ func (s *UserStore) Create(ctx context.Context, u *models.User) error {
 		u.AuthSource = "builtin"
 	}
 	return DB.QueryRowContext(ctx, `
-		INSERT INTO users (username, email, password_hash, display_name, role, is_active, settings, auth_source, external_id, handle)
-		VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $6, $7, $8, $9, $10)
+		INSERT INTO users (username, email, password_hash, display_name, is_active, settings, auth_source, external_id, handle)
+		VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $6, $7, $8, $9)
 		RETURNING id, created_at, updated_at`,
-		u.Username, u.Email, u.PasswordHash, u.DisplayName, u.Role, u.IsActive,
+		u.Username, u.Email, u.PasswordHash, u.DisplayName, u.IsActive,
 		ToJSON(u.Settings), u.AuthSource, u.ExternalID, u.Handle,
 	).Scan(&u.ID, &u.CreatedAt, &u.UpdatedAt)
 }
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ func (s *UserStore) List(ctx context.Context, opts store.ListOptions) ([]models.
 		var extID, hdl sql.NullString
 		var sj []byte
 		if err := rows.Scan(&u.ID, &u.Username, &u.Email, &dn, &av,
-			&u.Role, &u.IsActive, &sj, &u.CreatedAt, &u.UpdatedAt, &u.LastLoginAt,
+			&u.IsActive, &sj, &u.CreatedAt, &u.UpdatedAt, &u.LastLoginAt,
 			&u.AuthSource, &extID, &hdl); err != nil {
 			return nil, 0, err
 		}
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ func scanOneUser(ctx context.Context, query string, args ...interface{}) (*model
 	var sj []byte
 	err := DB.QueryRowContext(ctx, query, args...).Scan(
 		&u.ID, &u.Username, &u.Email, &ph, &dn, &av,
-		&u.Role, &u.IsActive, &sj, &u.CreatedAt, &u.UpdatedAt, &u.LastLoginAt,
+		&u.IsActive, &sj, &u.CreatedAt, &u.UpdatedAt, &u.LastLoginAt,
 		&u.AuthSource, &extID, &hdl,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -233,13 +233,6 @@ func (s *UserStore) SearchActive(ctx context.Context, excludeUserID, query strin

 // ── CS2 additions (v0.29.0) ─────────────────────────────────────────────

-func (s *UserStore) CountByRole(ctx context.Context, role string) (int, error) {
-	var count int
-	err := DB.QueryRowContext(ctx,
-		`SELECT COUNT(*) FROM users WHERE role = $1`, role).Scan(&count)
-	return count, err
-}
-
 func (s *UserStore) MergeSettings(ctx context.Context, userID string, patch []byte) error {
 	_, err := DB.ExecContext(ctx, `
 		UPDATE users SET settings = (
--- a/server/store/sqlite/groups.go
+++ b/server/store/sqlite/groups.go
@@ -48,22 +48,17 @@ func (s *GroupStore) GetByID(ctx context.Context, id string) (*models.Group, err
 	var teamID sql.NullString
 	var createdBy sql.NullString
 	var permsStr sql.NullString
-	var budgetDaily, budgetMonthly sql.NullInt64
-	var allowedStr sql.NullString

 	err := DB.QueryRowContext(ctx, `
 		SELECT g.id, g.name, g.description, g.scope, g.team_id, g.created_by,
 		       g.created_at, g.updated_at,
 		       (SELECT COUNT(*) FROM group_members WHERE group_id = g.id) AS member_count,
 		       COALESCE(g.source, 'manual'),
-		       COALESCE(g.permissions, '[]'),
-		       g.token_budget_daily,
-		       g.token_budget_monthly,
-		       g.allowed_models
+		       COALESCE(g.permissions, '[]')
 		FROM groups g WHERE g.id = ?`, id).Scan(
 		&g.ID, &g.Name, &g.Description, &g.Scope, &teamID, &createdBy,
 		st(&g.CreatedAt), st(&g.UpdatedAt), &g.MemberCount, &g.Source,
-		&permsStr, &budgetDaily, &budgetMonthly, &allowedStr,
+		&permsStr,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -71,20 +66,11 @@ func (s *GroupStore) GetByID(ctx context.Context, id string) (*models.Group, err
 	g.TeamID = NullableStringPtr(teamID)
 	g.CreatedBy = NullableStringPtr(createdBy)
 	g.Permissions = unmarshalStringSlice(permsStr.String)
-	if budgetDaily.Valid {
-		g.TokenBudgetDaily = &budgetDaily.Int64
-	}
-	if budgetMonthly.Valid {
-		g.TokenBudgetMonthly = &budgetMonthly.Int64
-	}
-	if allowedStr.Valid && allowedStr.String != "" {
-		g.AllowedModels = unmarshalStringSlice(allowedStr.String)
-	}
 	return &g, nil
 }

 // Update applies a patch to a group.
-// system groups allow permission/budget edits but not structural field changes.
+// System groups allow permission edits but not structural field changes.
 func (s *GroupStore) Update(ctx context.Context, id string, patch models.GroupPatch) error {
 	var source string
 	if err := DB.QueryRowContext(ctx, "SELECT source FROM groups WHERE id = ?", id).Scan(&source); err != nil {
@@ -107,25 +93,6 @@ func (s *GroupStore) Update(ctx context.Context, id string, patch models.GroupPa
 		}
 		b.Set("permissions", string(permsJSON))
 	}
-	if patch.ClearBudgetDaily {
-		b.SetNull("token_budget_daily")
-	} else if patch.TokenBudgetDaily != nil {
-		b.Set("token_budget_daily", *patch.TokenBudgetDaily)
-	}
-	if patch.ClearBudgetMonthly {
-		b.SetNull("token_budget_monthly")
-	} else if patch.TokenBudgetMonthly != nil {
-		b.Set("token_budget_monthly", *patch.TokenBudgetMonthly)
-	}
-	if patch.ClearAllowedModels {
-		b.SetNull("allowed_models")
-	} else if patch.AllowedModels != nil {
-		modelsJSON, err := json.Marshal(*patch.AllowedModels)
-		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("marshal allowed_models: %w", err)
-		}
-		b.Set("allowed_models", string(modelsJSON))
-	}
 	if !b.HasSets() {
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -169,10 +136,7 @@ const groupSelectCols = `
 	g.created_at, g.updated_at,
 	(SELECT COUNT(*) FROM group_members WHERE group_id = g.id) AS member_count,
 	COALESCE(g.source, 'manual'),
-	COALESCE(g.permissions, '[]'),
-	g.token_budget_daily,
-	g.token_budget_monthly,
-	g.allowed_models`
+	COALESCE(g.permissions, '[]')`

 func (s *GroupStore) ListAll(ctx context.Context) ([]models.Group, error) {
 	return queryGroups(ctx, `SELECT `+groupSelectCols+`
@@ -285,28 +249,17 @@ func queryGroups(ctx context.Context, q string, args ...interface{}) ([]models.G
 		var teamID sql.NullString
 		var createdBy sql.NullString
 		var permsStr sql.NullString
-		var budgetDaily, budgetMonthly sql.NullInt64
-		var allowedStr sql.NullString

 		if err := rows.Scan(
 			&g.ID, &g.Name, &g.Description, &g.Scope, &teamID, &createdBy,
 			st(&g.CreatedAt), st(&g.UpdatedAt), &g.MemberCount, &g.Source,
-			&permsStr, &budgetDaily, &budgetMonthly, &allowedStr,
+			&permsStr,
 		); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 		g.TeamID = NullableStringPtr(teamID)
 		g.CreatedBy = NullableStringPtr(createdBy)
 		g.Permissions = unmarshalStringSlice(permsStr.String)
-		if budgetDaily.Valid {
-			g.TokenBudgetDaily = &budgetDaily.Int64
-		}
-		if budgetMonthly.Valid {
-			g.TokenBudgetMonthly = &budgetMonthly.Int64
-		}
-		if allowedStr.Valid && allowedStr.String != "" {
-			g.AllowedModels = unmarshalStringSlice(allowedStr.String)
-		}
 		result = append(result, g)
 	}
 	return result, rows.Err()
--- a/server/store/sqlite/user.go
+++ b/server/store/sqlite/user.go
@@ -16,10 +16,10 @@ type UserStore struct{}
 func NewUserStore() *UserStore { return &UserStore{} }

 const userCols = `id, username, email, password_hash, display_name, avatar_url,
-	role, is_active, settings, created_at, updated_at, last_login_at,
+	is_active, settings, created_at, updated_at, last_login_at,
 	auth_source, external_id, handle`

-const userListCols = `id, username, email, display_name, avatar_url, role, is_active,
+const userListCols = `id, username, email, display_name, avatar_url, is_active,
 	settings, created_at, updated_at, last_login_at, auth_source, external_id, handle`

 func (s *UserStore) Create(ctx context.Context, u *models.User) error {
@@ -31,10 +31,10 @@ func (s *UserStore) Create(ctx context.Context, u *models.User) error {
 		u.AuthSource = "builtin"
 	}
 	_, err := DB.ExecContext(ctx, `
-		INSERT INTO users (id, username, email, password_hash, display_name, role, is_active,
+		INSERT INTO users (id, username, email, password_hash, display_name, is_active,
 			settings, created_at, updated_at, auth_source, external_id, handle)
-		VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)`,
-		u.ID, u.Username, u.Email, u.PasswordHash, u.DisplayName, u.Role, u.IsActive,
+		VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)`,
+		u.ID, u.Username, u.Email, u.PasswordHash, u.DisplayName, u.IsActive,
 		ToJSON(u.Settings), now.Format(timeFmt), now.Format(timeFmt),
 		u.AuthSource, u.ExternalID, u.Handle,
 	)
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ func (s *UserStore) List(ctx context.Context, opts store.ListOptions) ([]models.
 		var extID, hdl sql.NullString
 		var sj []byte
 		if err := rows.Scan(&u.ID, &u.Username, &u.Email, &dn, &av,
-			&u.Role, &u.IsActive, &sj, st(&u.CreatedAt), st(&u.UpdatedAt), stN(&u.LastLoginAt),
+			&u.IsActive, &sj, st(&u.CreatedAt), st(&u.UpdatedAt), stN(&u.LastLoginAt),
 			&u.AuthSource, &extID, &hdl); err != nil {
 			return nil, 0, err
 		}
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ func (s *UserStore) scanOne(ctx context.Context, query string, args ...interface
 	var sj []byte
 	err := DB.QueryRowContext(ctx, query, args...).Scan(
 		&u.ID, &u.Username, &u.Email, &ph, &dn, &av,
-		&u.Role, &u.IsActive, &sj, st(&u.CreatedAt), st(&u.UpdatedAt), stN(&u.LastLoginAt),
+		&u.IsActive, &sj, st(&u.CreatedAt), st(&u.UpdatedAt), stN(&u.LastLoginAt),
 		&u.AuthSource, &extID, &hdl,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -240,13 +240,6 @@ func (s *UserStore) SearchActive(ctx context.Context, excludeUserID, query strin

 // ── CS2 additions (v0.29.0) ─────────────────────────────────────────────

-func (s *UserStore) CountByRole(ctx context.Context, role string) (int, error) {
-	var count int
-	err := DB.QueryRowContext(ctx,
-		`SELECT COUNT(*) FROM users WHERE role = ?`, role).Scan(&count)
-	return count, err
-}
-
 func (s *UserStore) MergeSettings(ctx context.Context, userID string, patch []byte) error {
 	_, err := DB.ExecContext(ctx, `
 		UPDATE users SET settings = json_patch(
--- a/src/js/sw/sdk/api-domains.js
+++ b/src/js/sw/sdk/api-domains.js
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ export function createDomains(restClient) {
                create:        (data)              => rc.post('/api/v1/admin/users', data),
                del:           (id)                => rc.del(`/api/v1/admin/users/${id}`),
                resetPassword: (id, pw)            => rc.post(`/api/v1/admin/users/${id}/reset-password`, { password: pw }),
-                updateRole:    (id, role)          => rc.put(`/api/v1/admin/users/${id}/role`, { role }),
+                updateRole:    (id, isAdmin)       => rc.put(`/api/v1/admin/users/${id}/role`, { is_admin: isAdmin }),
                toggleActive:  (id, active, opts)  => rc.put(`/api/v1/admin/users/${id}/active`, { is_active: active, ...opts }),
                permissions:   (id)                => rc.get(`/api/v1/admin/users/${id}/permissions`),
                resetVault:    (id)                => rc.post(`/api/v1/admin/users/${id}/vault/reset`, {}),
--- a/src/js/sw/surfaces/admin/groups.js
+++ b/src/js/sw/surfaces/admin/groups.js
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ export default function GroupsSection() {
    const [members, setMembers] = useState([]);
    const [allPerms, setAllPerms] = useState([]);
    const [allUsers, setAllUsers] = useState([]);
-    const [allModels, setAllModels] = useState([]);
    const [groupData, setGroupData] = useState({});
    const [showCreate, setShowCreate] = useState(false);
    const [showAddMember, setShowAddMember] = useState(false);
@@ -30,21 +29,16 @@ export default function GroupsSection() {
        setDetail(group);
        setGroupData({
            permissions: group.permissions || [],
-            token_budget_daily: group.token_budget_daily ?? '',
-            token_budget_monthly: group.token_budget_monthly ?? '',
-            allowed_models: group.allowed_models || [],
        });
        try {
-            const [m, p, u, models] = await Promise.all([
+            const [m, p, u] = await Promise.all([
                sw.api.admin.groups.members(group.id),
                sw.api.admin.permissions.list(),
                sw.api.admin.users.list(),
-                sw.api.admin.models.list().catch(() => []),
            ]);
            setMembers(m || []);
            setAllPerms(p.permissions || []);
            setAllUsers(u || []);
-            setAllModels(models || []);
        } catch (e) { sw.toast(e.message, 'error'); }
    }

@@ -63,13 +57,10 @@ export default function GroupsSection() {
        } catch (e) { sw.toast(e.message, 'error'); }
    }

-    async function savePermsAndBudgets() {
+    async function savePermissions() {
        try {
            await sw.api.admin.groups.update(detail.id, {
                permissions: groupData.permissions,
-                token_budget_daily: groupData.token_budget_daily || null,
-                token_budget_monthly: groupData.token_budget_monthly || null,
-                allowed_models: groupData.allowed_models.length ? groupData.allowed_models : null,
            });
            sw.toast('Saved', 'success');
        } catch (e) { sw.toast(e.message, 'error'); }
@@ -84,15 +75,6 @@ export default function GroupsSection() {
        });
    }

-    function toggleModel(modelId) {
-        setGroupData(prev => {
-            const list = prev.allowed_models.includes(modelId)
-                ? prev.allowed_models.filter(m => m !== modelId)
-                : [...prev.allowed_models, modelId];
-            return { ...prev, allowed_models: list };
-        });
-    }
-
    async function addMember(e) {
        e.preventDefault();
        const uid = e.target.userId.value;
@@ -151,37 +133,8 @@ export default function GroupsSection() {
                </div>
            </div>

-            <div class="settings-section" style="margin-bottom:16px;">
-                <h5 style="margin:0 0 8px;">Token Budgets</h5>
-                <div class="form-row" style="gap:12px;">
-                    <div class="form-group" style="flex:1;"><label>Daily limit</label>
-                        <input type="number" placeholder="Unlimited" min="0" value=${groupData.token_budget_daily}
-                               onInput=${e => setGroupData(p => ({ ...p, token_budget_daily: e.target.value ? Number(e.target.value) : '' }))} />
-                    </div>
-                    <div class="form-group" style="flex:1;"><label>Monthly limit</label>
-                        <input type="number" placeholder="Unlimited" min="0" value=${groupData.token_budget_monthly}
-                               onInput=${e => setGroupData(p => ({ ...p, token_budget_monthly: e.target.value ? Number(e.target.value) : '' }))} />
-                    </div>
-                </div>
-            </div>
-
-            <div class="settings-section" style="margin-bottom:16px;">
-                <h5 style="margin:0 0 8px;">Allowed Models</h5>
-                <p class="text-muted" style="font-size:12px;margin:0 0 8px;">Leave empty for unrestricted.</p>
-                <div class="admin-models-grid">
-                    ${allModels.map(m => html`
-                        <label class="toggle-label" key=${m.id || m.model_id}>
-                            <input type="checkbox" checked=${groupData.allowed_models.includes(m.model_id || m.id)}
-                                   onChange=${() => toggleModel(m.model_id || m.id)} />
-                            <span class="toggle-track"></span>
-                            <span>${m.display_name || m.model_id || m.id}</span>
-                        </label>
-                    `)}
-                </div>
-            </div>
-
            <div style="margin-bottom:16px;">
-                <button class="btn-small btn-primary" onClick=${savePermsAndBudgets}>Save Permissions & Budgets</button>
+                <button class="btn-small btn-primary" onClick=${savePermissions}>Save Permissions</button>
            </div>

            <hr style="border:none;border-top:1px solid var(--border);margin:16px 0;" />
--- a/src/js/sw/surfaces/admin/users.js
+++ b/src/js/sw/surfaces/admin/users.js
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ export default function UsersSection() {
            username: form.username.value.trim(),
            email: form.email.value.trim(),
            password: form.password.value,
-            role: form.role.value,
+            is_admin: form.is_admin.checked,
        };
        if (!data.username || !data.password) return sw.toast('Username and password required', 'error');
        try {
@@ -52,10 +52,10 @@ export default function UsersSection() {
        } catch (e) { sw.toast(e.message, 'error'); }
    }

-    async function changeRole(id, role) {
+    async function toggleAdmin(id, isAdmin) {
        try {
-            await sw.api.admin.users.updateRole(id, role);
-            sw.toast(`Role updated to ${role}`, 'success');
+            await sw.api.admin.users.updateRole(id, isAdmin);
+            sw.toast(isAdmin ? 'Admin granted' : 'Admin revoked', 'success');
            load();
        } catch (e) { sw.toast(e.message, 'error'); }
    }
@@ -112,8 +112,8 @@ export default function UsersSection() {
                        <div class="form-group"><label>Username</label><input name="username" placeholder="username" autocomplete="off" /></div>
                        <div class="form-group"><label>Email</label><input name="email" placeholder="email@example.com" autocomplete="off" /></div>
                        <div class="form-group"><label>Password</label><input name="password" type="password" placeholder="min 8 chars" autocomplete="new-password" /></div>
-                        <div class="form-group"><label>Role</label>
-                            <select name="role"><option value="user">User</option><option value="admin">Admin</option></select>
+                        <div class="form-group" style="align-self:flex-end;">
+                            <label class="toggle-label"><input type="checkbox" name="is_admin" /><span class="toggle-track"></span><span>Admin</span></label>
                        </div>
                    </div>
                    <div class="form-row" style="margin-top:8px;gap:8px;">
@@ -131,17 +131,11 @@ export default function UsersSection() {
                            <strong>${u.username}</strong>
                            <span class="text-muted" style="margin-left:8px;font-size:12px;">${u.email || ''}</span>
                            ${' '}${statusBadge(u)}
-                            ${' '}<span class="badge ${u.role === 'admin' ? 'badge-admin' : ''}">${u.role}</span>
                        </div>
                        <div class="admin-actions-cell">
                            ${u.status === 'pending' && html`
                                <button class="btn-small btn-primary" onClick=${() => approveUser(u.id)}>Approve</button>
                            `}
-                            <select value=${u.role} onChange=${e => changeRole(u.id, e.target.value)}
-                                    style="font-size:11px;padding:2px 4px;">
-                                <option value="user">user</option>
-                                <option value="admin">admin</option>
-                            </select>
                            ${u.is_active
                                ? html`<button class="btn-small" onClick=${() => toggleActive(u.id, false)}>Disable</button>`
                                : html`<button class="btn-small" onClick=${() => toggleActive(u.id, true)}>Enable</button>`