AI agents call linear_deleteInitiative to permanently remove resources in Linear — typically in cleanup and lifecycle workflows. It does its job in a single call, and there is no undo.
Deleting an initiative destroys project planning data and its associations (linked issues, projects, releases). While 'move to trash' suggests potential recovery, the tool's primary action is destructive removal of organizational data. This is more severe than Write (which is reversible via simple updates) and meets the Destructive category threshold.
From the tool's definition Tool name contains 'delete' and description explicitly states 'Delete an initiative (move to trash)' — this removes data irreversibly from active use, even if technically recoverable from trash.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access linear_deleteInitiative gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Linear, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for linear_deleteInitiative:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"hide": [
"linear_deleteInitiative"
]
}linear_deleteInitiative disappears from the agent's tool list entirely, and any attempt to call it is denied. The rest of the server keeps working.
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Delete an initiative (move to trash). It is categorised as a Destructive tool in the Linear MCP Server, which means it can permanently delete or destroy data. Block by default and require explicit approval.
Register the Linear MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for linear_deleteInitiative: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches Linear. Nothing to install.
linear_deleteInitiative is a Destructive tool with critical risk. Critical-risk tools should be blocked by default and only enabled with explicit human approval.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the linear_deleteInitiative rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for linear_deleteInitiative. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.
linear_deleteInitiative is provided by the Linear MCP server (tacticlaunch/mcp-linear). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Deterministic rules across all 182 Linear tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.
Free to start. No card required.
182 Linear tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 42,500+ MCP servers.