diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index dad62e9..b2c2d7a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@
 
 <p align="center">
   <a href="https://www.npmjs.com/package/@imdeadpool/guardex"><img alt="npm version" src="https://img.shields.io/npm/v/%40imdeadpool%2Fguardex?label=npm&style=flat-square&color=cb3837&logo=npm&logoColor=white"></a>
+  <a href="https://www.npmjs.com/package/@imdeadpool/guardex"><img alt="npm downloads per month" src="https://img.shields.io/npm/dm/%40imdeadpool%2Fguardex?label=downloads%2Fmonth&style=flat-square&color=0b76c5"></a>
+  <a href="https://github.com/recodeee/gitguardex/actions/workflows/ci.yml"><img alt="CI status" src="https://img.shields.io/github/actions/workflow/status/recodeee/gitguardex/ci.yml?branch=main&label=CI&style=flat-square"></a>
+  <a href="https://scorecard.dev/viewer/?uri=github.com/recodeee/gitguardex"><img alt="OpenSSF Scorecard" src="https://img.shields.io/ossf-scorecard/github.com/recodeee/gitguardex?label=OpenSSF%20Scorecard&style=flat-square"></a>
   <a href="https://github.com/recodeee/gitguardex/stargazers"><img alt="stars" src="https://img.shields.io/github/stars/recodeee/gitguardex?label=stars&style=flat-square&color=d4ac0d"></a>
   <a href="https://github.com/recodeee/gitguardex/commits/main"><img alt="last commit" src="https://img.shields.io/github/last-commit/recodeee/gitguardex?label=last%20commit&style=flat-square&color=7aa2f7"></a>
   <a href="./LICENSE"><img alt="license" src="https://img.shields.io/npm/l/%40imdeadpool%2Fguardex?label=license&style=flat-square&color=97ca00"></a>
diff --git a/openspec/changes/agent-codex-expand-readme-badges-2026-04-22-16-01/.openspec.yaml b/openspec/changes/agent-codex-expand-readme-badges-2026-04-22-16-01/.openspec.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..25345f4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openspec/changes/agent-codex-expand-readme-badges-2026-04-22-16-01/.openspec.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+schema: spec-driven
+created: 2026-04-22
diff --git a/openspec/changes/agent-codex-expand-readme-badges-2026-04-22-16-01/notes.md b/openspec/changes/agent-codex-expand-readme-badges-2026-04-22-16-01/notes.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b3e3e99
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openspec/changes/agent-codex-expand-readme-badges-2026-04-22-16-01/notes.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# T1 Notes
+
+- Expand the README hero badge strip so the package block shows more than version alone.
+- Add monthly npm downloads, CI status, and OpenSSF Scorecard badges next to the existing npm, stars, last commit, and license badges.
+- Keep the badge row focused on package traction and repo health signals that render well on GitHub.
+- Preserve the canonical `about_description.txt` README reference so metadata checks still match the package description source.