diff --git a/packages/junior/src/chat/agent/resume.ts b/packages/junior/src/chat/agent/resume.ts
index 9d9c5fc5a..027e06236 100644
--- a/packages/junior/src/chat/agent/resume.ts
+++ b/packages/junior/src/chat/agent/resume.ts
@@ -216,6 +216,7 @@ export function createResumeState(args: ResumeStateArgs) {
         return {
           status: "awaiting_auth",
           providerDisplayName: pause.providerDisplayName,
+          ...(pause.requestText ? { requestText: pause.requestText } : {}),
           ...(usage ? { usage } : {}),
         };
       } catch (error) {
diff --git a/packages/junior/src/chat/agent/tools.ts b/packages/junior/src/chat/agent/tools.ts
index f8c3f0c3a..944c6f122 100644
--- a/packages/junior/src/chat/agent/tools.ts
+++ b/packages/junior/src/chat/agent/tools.ts
@@ -174,6 +174,7 @@ export async function wireAgentTools(
       args.routing.source.platform === "slack"
         ? args.routing.source.threadTs
         : undefined,
+    userMessage: args.userInput,
     pendingAuth: args.state.pendingAuth,
     recordPendingAuth: args.durability.recordPendingAuth,
     authorizationFlowMode: args.policy.authorizationFlowMode,
diff --git a/packages/junior/src/chat/runtime/agent-run-outcome.ts b/packages/junior/src/chat/runtime/agent-run-outcome.ts
index 8bae90b88..2325b57e7 100644
--- a/packages/junior/src/chat/runtime/agent-run-outcome.ts
+++ b/packages/junior/src/chat/runtime/agent-run-outcome.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ export type AgentRunOutcome =
   | {
       status: "awaiting_auth";
       providerDisplayName: string;
+      requestText?: string;
       usage?: AgentTurnUsage;
     };
 
diff --git a/packages/junior/src/chat/runtime/reply-executor.ts b/packages/junior/src/chat/runtime/reply-executor.ts
index 3fcbcdd97..f88aa4699 100644
--- a/packages/junior/src/chat/runtime/reply-executor.ts
+++ b/packages/junior/src/chat/runtime/reply-executor.ts
@@ -577,6 +577,7 @@ export function createReplyToThread(deps: ReplyExecutorDeps) {
         };
         const postAuthPauseNotice = async (
           providerDisplayName: string,
+          requestText?: string,
         ): Promise<void> => {
           if (!actor) {
             throw new Error("Slack auth pause notice requires an actor");
@@ -584,6 +585,7 @@ export function createReplyToThread(deps: ReplyExecutorDeps) {
           const text = buildAuthPauseResponse(
             actor.userId,
             providerDisplayName,
+            requestText,
           );
           try {
             await beforeFirstResponsePost();
@@ -1386,7 +1388,10 @@ export function createReplyToThread(deps: ReplyExecutorDeps) {
               shouldPersistFailureState = false;
               return;
             }
-            await postAuthPauseNotice(outcome.providerDisplayName);
+            await postAuthPauseNotice(
+              outcome.providerDisplayName,
+              outcome.requestText,
+            );
             completeAuthPauseTurn({
               conversation: preparedState.conversation,
               sessionId: turnId,
diff --git a/packages/junior/src/chat/runtime/slack-resume.ts b/packages/junior/src/chat/runtime/slack-resume.ts
index 4a5db4e17..f295682e1 100644
--- a/packages/junior/src/chat/runtime/slack-resume.ts
+++ b/packages/junior/src/chat/runtime/slack-resume.ts
@@ -426,7 +426,11 @@ export async function resumeSlackTurn(
   });
   let processingReaction: ProcessingReactionSession | undefined;
   let deferredAuthInfo:
-    | { providerDisplayName: string; actorId: string | undefined }
+    | {
+        providerDisplayName: string;
+        actorId: string | undefined;
+        requestText?: string;
+      }
     | undefined;
   let deferredPauseHandler: (() => Promise<void>) | undefined;
   let deferredFailureHandler: (() => Promise<void>) | undefined;
@@ -631,6 +635,7 @@ export async function resumeSlackTurn(
         deferredAuthInfo = {
           providerDisplayName: outcome.providerDisplayName,
           actorId: isUserActor(resumeActor) ? resumeActor.userId : undefined,
+          ...(outcome.requestText ? { requestText: outcome.requestText } : {}),
         };
         deferredPauseHandler = async () => {
           await onAuthPause({
@@ -793,6 +798,7 @@ export async function resumeSlackTurn(
           buildAuthPauseResponse(
             deferredAuthInfo.actorId,
             deferredAuthInfo.providerDisplayName,
+            deferredAuthInfo.requestText,
           ),
           runArgs.conversationId,
         );
diff --git a/packages/junior/src/chat/services/auth-pause-response.ts b/packages/junior/src/chat/services/auth-pause-response.ts
index 434101436..5243177ed 100644
--- a/packages/junior/src/chat/services/auth-pause-response.ts
+++ b/packages/junior/src/chat/services/auth-pause-response.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,30 @@
+const MAX_AUTH_REQUEST_LENGTH = 200;
+
+function formatAuthRequest(requestText: string): string | undefined {
+  const normalized = requestText.replace(/\s+/g, " ").trim();
+  if (!normalized) {
+    return undefined;
+  }
+  const bounded =
+    normalized.length > MAX_AUTH_REQUEST_LENGTH
+      ? `${normalized.slice(0, MAX_AUTH_REQUEST_LENGTH - 1).trimEnd()}…`
+      : normalized;
+  return bounded
+    .replaceAll("&", "&amp;")
+    .replaceAll("<", "&lt;")
+    .replaceAll(">", "&gt;");
+}
+
 /** Build the visible Slack thread note for an auth-paused turn. */
 export function buildAuthPauseResponse(
   slackUserId: string | undefined,
   providerDisplayName: string,
+  requestText?: string,
 ): string {
   const mention = slackUserId ? `<@${slackUserId}> ` : "";
-  return `${mention}I'll need you to authorize ${providerDisplayName}. I sent you a link.`;
+  const request = requestText ? formatAuthRequest(requestText) : undefined;
+  if (!request) {
+    return `${mention}I'll need you to authorize ${providerDisplayName}. I sent you a link.`;
+  }
+  return `${mention}I need access to ${providerDisplayName} to continue.\n\n*Why:* ${request}\n\nI sent you a link.`;
 }
diff --git a/packages/junior/src/chat/services/auth-pause.ts b/packages/junior/src/chat/services/auth-pause.ts
index c8d8d6039..808b09434 100644
--- a/packages/junior/src/chat/services/auth-pause.ts
+++ b/packages/junior/src/chat/services/auth-pause.ts
@@ -11,12 +11,14 @@ export class AuthorizationPauseError extends Error {
   readonly kind: AuthorizationPauseKind;
   readonly provider: string;
   readonly providerDisplayName: string;
+  readonly requestText?: string;
 
   constructor(
     kind: AuthorizationPauseKind,
     provider: string,
     providerDisplayName: string,
     disposition: AuthorizationPauseDisposition,
+    requestText?: string,
   ) {
     super(
       kind === "mcp"
@@ -31,6 +33,7 @@ export class AuthorizationPauseError extends Error {
     this.kind = kind;
     this.provider = provider;
     this.providerDisplayName = providerDisplayName;
+    this.requestText = requestText;
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/junior/src/chat/services/mcp-auth-orchestration.ts b/packages/junior/src/chat/services/mcp-auth-orchestration.ts
index 14d50ba0e..0334e79f2 100644
--- a/packages/junior/src/chat/services/mcp-auth-orchestration.ts
+++ b/packages/junior/src/chat/services/mcp-auth-orchestration.ts
@@ -35,8 +35,9 @@ export class McpAuthorizationPauseError extends AuthorizationPauseError {
     provider: string,
     providerDisplayName: string,
     disposition: "link_already_sent" | "link_sent",
+    requestText?: string,
   ) {
-    super("mcp", provider, providerDisplayName, disposition);
+    super("mcp", provider, providerDisplayName, disposition, requestText);
   }
 }
 
@@ -232,6 +233,7 @@ export function createMcpAuthOrchestration(
       provider,
       providerLabel,
       reusingPendingLink ? "link_already_sent" : "link_sent",
+      input.userMessage,
     );
     input.abortAgent();
     return true;
diff --git a/packages/junior/src/chat/services/plugin-auth-orchestration.ts b/packages/junior/src/chat/services/plugin-auth-orchestration.ts
index c12c4fd72..c5b80ce6b 100644
--- a/packages/junior/src/chat/services/plugin-auth-orchestration.ts
+++ b/packages/junior/src/chat/services/plugin-auth-orchestration.ts
@@ -32,8 +32,9 @@ export class PluginAuthorizationPauseError extends AuthorizationPauseError {
     provider: string,
     providerDisplayName: string,
     disposition: "link_already_sent" | "link_sent",
+    requestText?: string,
   ) {
-    super("plugin", provider, providerDisplayName, disposition);
+    super("plugin", provider, providerDisplayName, disposition, requestText);
   }
 }
 
@@ -56,6 +57,7 @@ export interface PluginAuthOrchestrationInput {
   destination?: Destination;
   source?: Source;
   threadTs?: string;
+  userMessage?: string;
   pendingAuth?: ConversationPendingAuthState;
   recordPendingAuth?: (
     pendingAuth: ConversationPendingAuthState,
@@ -224,6 +226,7 @@ export function createPluginAuthOrchestration(
       provider,
       providerLabel,
       reusingPendingLink ? "link_already_sent" : "link_sent",
+      input.userMessage,
     );
     input.abortAgent();
     throw pendingPause;
diff --git a/packages/junior/tests/integration/mcp-auth-runtime-slack.test.ts b/packages/junior/tests/integration/mcp-auth-runtime-slack.test.ts
index 92a147cef..0e8e09714 100644
--- a/packages/junior/tests/integration/mcp-auth-runtime-slack.test.ts
+++ b/packages/junior/tests/integration/mcp-auth-runtime-slack.test.ts
@@ -488,7 +488,7 @@ describe("mcp auth runtime slack integration", () => {
         params: expect.objectContaining({
           channel: "C123",
           thread_ts: "1700000000.001",
-          text: "<@U123> I'll need you to authorize Eval Auth. I sent you a link.",
+          text: "<@U123> I need access to Eval Auth to continue.\n\n*Why:* what did i say about the budget?\n\nI sent you a link.",
         }),
       }),
     ]);
@@ -643,7 +643,7 @@ describe("mcp auth runtime slack integration", () => {
         params: expect.objectContaining({
           channel: "C123",
           thread_ts: "1700000000.001",
-          text: "<@U123> I'll need you to authorize Eval Auth. I sent you a link.",
+          text: "<@U123> I need access to Eval Auth to continue.\n\n*Why:* what did i say about the budget?\n\nI sent you a link.",
         }),
       }),
       expect.objectContaining({
@@ -741,7 +741,7 @@ describe("mcp auth runtime slack integration", () => {
         params: expect.objectContaining({
           channel: "C124",
           thread_ts: "1700000000.002",
-          text: "<@U123> I'll need you to authorize Eval Auth. I sent you a link.",
+          text: "<@U123> I need access to Eval Auth to continue.\n\n*Why:* what did i say about the budget?\n\nI sent you a link.",
         }),
       }),
     ]);
@@ -1062,7 +1062,7 @@ describe("mcp auth runtime slack integration", () => {
         params: expect.objectContaining({
           channel: "C125",
           thread_ts: "1700000000.003",
-          text: "<@U123> I'll need you to authorize Eval Auth. I sent you a link.",
+          text: "<@U123> I need access to Eval Auth to continue.\n\n*Why:* use eval-auth directly for the budget answer\n\nI sent you a link.",
         }),
       }),
       expect.objectContaining({
diff --git a/packages/junior/tests/unit/services/auth-pause-response.test.ts b/packages/junior/tests/unit/services/auth-pause-response.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4c4694c98
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/junior/tests/unit/services/auth-pause-response.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import { buildAuthPauseResponse } from "@/chat/services/auth-pause-response";
+
+describe("buildAuthPauseResponse", () => {
+  it("shows the escaped user request in the public notice", () => {
+    expect(
+      buildAuthPauseResponse(
+        "U123",
+        "GitHub",
+        "  Update <roadmap> & notify the team  ",
+      ),
+    ).toBe(
+      "<@U123> I need access to GitHub to continue.\n\n*Why:* Update &lt;roadmap&gt; &amp; notify the team\n\nI sent you a link.",
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("falls back to the generic notice without request text", () => {
+    expect(buildAuthPauseResponse("U123", "GitHub")).toBe(
+      "<@U123> I'll need you to authorize GitHub. I sent you a link.",
+    );
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/junior/tests/unit/services/mcp-auth-orchestration.test.ts b/packages/junior/tests/unit/services/mcp-auth-orchestration.test.ts
index f4a94e0a1..f885918cf 100644
--- a/packages/junior/tests/unit/services/mcp-auth-orchestration.test.ts
+++ b/packages/junior/tests/unit/services/mcp-auth-orchestration.test.ts
@@ -177,6 +177,9 @@ describe("createMcpAuthOrchestration", () => {
     await expect(orchestration.onAuthorizationRequired("github")).resolves.toBe(
       true,
     );
+    expect(orchestration.getPendingPause()).toMatchObject({
+      requestText: "use MCP",
+    });
 
     expect(deliverPrivateMessage).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
       expect.objectContaining({
diff --git a/packages/junior/tests/unit/services/plugin-auth-orchestration.test.ts b/packages/junior/tests/unit/services/plugin-auth-orchestration.test.ts
index f853313a1..f5d96a571 100644
--- a/packages/junior/tests/unit/services/plugin-auth-orchestration.test.ts
+++ b/packages/junior/tests/unit/services/plugin-auth-orchestration.test.ts
@@ -253,6 +253,32 @@ describe("createPluginAuthOrchestration", () => {
     expect(unlinkProvider).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
 
+  it("preserves the user request on the auth pause", async () => {
+    startOAuthFlow.mockResolvedValue({
+      ok: true,
+      delivery: { channelId: "D123" },
+    });
+
+    const orchestration = createPluginAuthOrchestration({
+      abortAgent: vi.fn(),
+      actorId: "U123",
+      userMessage: "Create the requested issue",
+      userTokenStore: tokenStore(),
+    });
+
+    let caught: unknown;
+    try {
+      await orchestration.maybeHandleAuthSignal({
+        auth_required: githubWriteSignal,
+      });
+    } catch (error) {
+      caught = error;
+    }
+
+    expect(caught).toBeInstanceOf(PluginAuthorizationPauseError);
+    expect(caught).toMatchObject({ requestText: "Create the requested issue" });
+  });
+
   it("starts oauth for GitHub write grant signal", async () => {
     startOAuthFlow.mockResolvedValue({
       ok: true,