diff --git a/docs/inbound-mail-effects.md b/docs/inbound-mail-effects.md
index bf68fe92..f780e777 100644
--- a/docs/inbound-mail-effects.md
+++ b/docs/inbound-mail-effects.md
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ non-delivery**:
 - `assertRoutable` refuses a re-route (409, `SEND_IN_FLIGHT_CONFLICT`) while the newest attempt is in
   flight — including the `retargeted` branch. `MailService.reply`/`resend` apply the same guard.
 - `runAutoForwardWith` classifies the deadline error distinctly and does **not** retry it. Retrying would
-  put a second multi-MB packet in front of a government contact for a message that very likely sent.
+  put a second packet in front of a government contact for a message that very likely sent.
 - The operator sees a **409 CONFLICT** with "the send is still in progress", not a 500 — so the console's
   existing conflict handling applies and the error tracker is not spammed for an expected outcome.
 
@@ -263,8 +263,9 @@ in flight; any other `failed` → failed; no event and older than the stale wind
 
 `assertOutboundSendPolicy` runs in `loadEnv`, so the process refuses to boot when the knobs would let one
 send outlive the guard: `OUTBOUND_SEND_MIN_THROUGHPUT_BPS` must be ≥ 1024, `OCI_EMAIL_SMTP_TIMEOUT_MS`
-must be ≤ 60 000, and the largest computable deadline — sized for `MAX_PACKET_TOTAL_BYTES` (8 MiB) after
-base64 expansion (+33%, which is what actually crosses the wire) — must fit inside the 900 s window. At
+must be ≤ 60 000, and the largest computable deadline — sized for `OUTBOUND_PAYLOAD_BUDGET_BYTES` (8 MiB)
+after base64 expansion (+33%), far above any packet now that report media goes out as links rather than
+attachments — must fit inside the 900 s window. At
 the defaults that largest deadline is ≈ 88 s, comfortably inside it.
 
 | Env var | Default | Notes |
diff --git a/services/api/src/adapters/mailer.oci.ts b/services/api/src/adapters/mailer.oci.ts
index e6ab14c4..0db5aca7 100644
--- a/services/api/src/adapters/mailer.oci.ts
+++ b/services/api/src/adapters/mailer.oci.ts
@@ -80,8 +80,7 @@ function classifyMailError(err: unknown, from: string): MailSendError {
     case "oversize":
       return new MailSendError(
         ErrorCode.CONFLICT,
-        `Email not sent: the message (with its attachments) is too large for the mail provider. ` +
-          `Send fewer or smaller photos — the rest remain available as links.${detail}`,
+        `Email not sent: the message is too large for the mail provider.${detail}`,
         smtp,
         { cause: err },
       )
diff --git a/services/api/src/routes/admin/mail.routes.ts b/services/api/src/routes/admin/mail.routes.ts
index 98c40a2f..ee6e56d9 100644
--- a/services/api/src/routes/admin/mail.routes.ts
+++ b/services/api/src/routes/admin/mail.routes.ts
@@ -120,7 +120,6 @@ export async function registerAdminMailRoutes(
       makeMailService({
         repo: overrides.repo,
         outboundMail: overrides.outboundMail,
-        loadAttachmentBytes: (key) => (overrides.outboundStorage ?? container.storage).getObject(key),
       }),
     () => {
       const sql = container.getDb().sql
@@ -129,7 +128,6 @@ export async function registerAdminMailRoutes(
       return makeMailService({
         repo,
         outboundMail,
-        loadAttachmentBytes: (key) => container.storage.getObject(key),
       })
     },
   )
diff --git a/services/api/src/routes/admin/reports.routes.ts b/services/api/src/routes/admin/reports.routes.ts
index edd894c8..93e7553e 100644
--- a/services/api/src/routes/admin/reports.routes.ts
+++ b/services/api/src/routes/admin/reports.routes.ts
@@ -106,7 +106,6 @@ export async function registerAdminReportsRoutes(
         presignPacketMedia: makePacketMediaPresigner(container.storage),
         loadLinkedEventsForReports: (reportIds) =>
           cleanupRepo.loadLinkedEventsForReports(reportIds),
-        loadMediaBytes: (k) => container.storage.getObject(k),
         reportChatEmitter: makeContainerReportChatEmitter(container, app.log),
         forwardTemplates: makeDrizzleForwardTemplateRepository(sql),
         notifications: makeRouteNotificationService(container, app.log),
diff --git a/services/api/src/services/admin/admin-report-service.ts b/services/api/src/services/admin/admin-report-service.ts
index aed04591..b45fbc10 100644
--- a/services/api/src/services/admin/admin-report-service.ts
+++ b/services/api/src/services/admin/admin-report-service.ts
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ import type {
   ReportRouting,
   ReportTimelineItem,
 } from "@civfix/shared"
-import type { PacketAttachment } from "./outbound-mail-service.js"
 import { toLinkedEventRef, type LinkedEventView } from "../cleanup-service.js"
 import { toRelAbs } from "./admin-format.js"
 import { toPersonDTO } from "./admin-person.js"
@@ -30,14 +29,7 @@ import {
   statusChangeNote,
   timelineKindForStatus,
 } from "./admin-report-status.js"
-import {
-  attachmentFilename,
-  buildReportPacket,
-  MAX_PACKET_ATTACHMENTS,
-  MAX_PACKET_ATTACHMENT_BYTES,
-  MAX_PACKET_TOTAL_BYTES,
-  type PacketMediaLink,
-} from "./mail-format.js"
+import { buildReportPacket, type PacketMediaLink } from "./mail-format.js"
 import { pickPreviewMedia, previewThumbnailUrl } from "./admin-report-types.js"
 import type {
   AdminReportMediaRecord,
@@ -53,13 +45,7 @@ import type {
 
 export * from "./admin-report-types.js"
 export * from "./admin-report-status.js"
-export {
-  buildReportPacket,
-  attachmentFilename,
-  MAX_PACKET_ATTACHMENTS,
-  MAX_PACKET_ATTACHMENT_BYTES,
-  type ReportPacket,
-} from "./mail-format.js"
+export { buildReportPacket, type ReportPacket } from "./mail-format.js"
 
 const ROUTABLE_FROM_STATUSES: readonly AdminReportStatus[] = ["submitted", "held", "published"]
 
@@ -395,22 +381,8 @@ export function makeAdminReportService(deps: AdminReportServiceDeps): AdminRepor
       const publiclyVisible =
         isPubliclyVisibleStatus(record.status) && record.visibility === "public"
       const packetMedia: PacketMediaLink[] = []
-      const attachments: PacketAttachment[] = []
-      let attachedBytesTotal = 0
       for (const m of media) {
         packetMedia.push({ kind: m.kind, url: await presignPacketMedia(m.r2Key, publiclyVisible) })
-        if (m.kind !== "image" || attachments.length >= MAX_PACKET_ATTACHMENTS) continue
-        const bytes = deps.loadMediaBytes ? await deps.loadMediaBytes(m.r2Key) : null
-        if (bytes === null || bytes.byteLength > MAX_PACKET_ATTACHMENT_BYTES) continue
-        if (attachedBytesTotal + bytes.byteLength > MAX_PACKET_TOTAL_BYTES) continue
-        attachedBytesTotal += bytes.byteLength
-        const contentType = attachmentContentType(m.contentType, bytes)
-        attachments.push({
-          key: m.r2Key,
-          filename: attachmentFilename(m.r2Key, attachments.length, contentType),
-          contentType,
-          content: bytes,
-        })
       }
 
       const defaults =
@@ -431,7 +403,6 @@ export function makeAdminReportService(deps: AdminReportServiceDeps): AdminRepor
           subject: packet.subject,
           text: packet.text,
           html: packet.html,
-          ...(attachments.length > 0 ? { attachments } : {}),
           audit: {
             actorId: input.actorId,
             action: "report.routed",
@@ -491,36 +462,6 @@ export function makeAdminReportService(deps: AdminReportServiceDeps): AdminRepor
   }
 }
 
-export function attachmentContentType(
-  stored: string | null | undefined,
-  bytes: Uint8Array,
-): string {
-  if (stored !== null && stored !== undefined && stored.trim() !== "") return stored
-  return sniffImageMime(bytes) ?? "image/jpeg"
-}
-
-function sniffImageMime(bytes: Uint8Array): string | null {
-  if (bytes.length >= 3 && bytes[0] === 0xff && bytes[1] === 0xd8 && bytes[2] === 0xff) {
-    return "image/jpeg"
-  }
-  const PNG = [0x89, 0x50, 0x4e, 0x47, 0x0d, 0x0a, 0x1a, 0x0a]
-  if (bytes.length >= PNG.length && PNG.every((b, i) => bytes[i] === b)) return "image/png"
-  if (
-    bytes.length >= 12 &&
-    bytes[0] === 0x52 &&
-    bytes[1] === 0x49 &&
-    bytes[2] === 0x46 &&
-    bytes[3] === 0x46 &&
-    bytes[8] === 0x57 &&
-    bytes[9] === 0x45 &&
-    bytes[10] === 0x42 &&
-    bytes[11] === 0x50
-  ) {
-    return "image/webp"
-  }
-  return null
-}
-
 function sameAddress(a: string, b: string): boolean {
   return a.trim().toLowerCase() === b.trim().toLowerCase()
 }
diff --git a/services/api/src/services/admin/admin-report-types.ts b/services/api/src/services/admin/admin-report-types.ts
index 57b7538f..aa09a23a 100644
--- a/services/api/src/services/admin/admin-report-types.ts
+++ b/services/api/src/services/admin/admin-report-types.ts
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ export interface AdminReportMediaRecord {
   kind: "image" | "video"
   r2Key: string
   thumbKey: string | null
-  contentType?: string | null
 }
 
 export interface AdminReportTimelineRecord {
@@ -171,7 +170,6 @@ export interface AdminReportServiceDeps {
   loadLinkedEventsForReports?: (
     reportIds: string[],
   ) => Promise<Map<string, LinkedEventView[]>>
-  loadMediaBytes?: (r2Key: string) => Promise<Uint8Array | null>
   now?: () => Date
   reportChatEmitter?: ReportChatSystemEmitter
   forwardTemplates?: ForwardTemplateReader
diff --git a/services/api/src/services/admin/autoforward-jobs.ts b/services/api/src/services/admin/autoforward-jobs.ts
index edc79f90..d7a80f50 100644
--- a/services/api/src/services/admin/autoforward-jobs.ts
+++ b/services/api/src/services/admin/autoforward-jobs.ts
@@ -99,7 +99,6 @@ function makeAutoForwardService(
     outboundMail,
     presignMedia: makePrivateMediaPresigner(container.storage),
     presignPacketMedia: makePacketMediaPresigner(container.storage),
-    loadMediaBytes: (k) => container.storage.getObject(k),
     reportChatEmitter: makeContainerReportChatEmitter(container, logger),
     forwardTemplates: makeDrizzleForwardTemplateRepository(sql),
   })
diff --git a/services/api/src/services/admin/mail-format.ts b/services/api/src/services/admin/mail-format.ts
index a57154ba..e8407d7b 100644
--- a/services/api/src/services/admin/mail-format.ts
+++ b/services/api/src/services/admin/mail-format.ts
@@ -28,32 +28,6 @@ import type { MarkdownInline } from "@civfix/shared/markdown"
 
 export const NO_PHOTO_LINKS = "(none)"
 
-export const MAX_PACKET_ATTACHMENTS = 10
-export const MAX_PACKET_ATTACHMENT_BYTES = 10 * 1024 * 1024
-export const MAX_PACKET_TOTAL_BYTES = 8 * 1024 * 1024
-
-const ATTACHMENT_EXTENSIONS: Record<string, string> = {
-  "image/jpeg": ".jpg",
-  "image/png": ".png",
-  "image/webp": ".webp",
-}
-
-const EXTENSION_FALLBACK = ".jpg"
-
-function hasExtension(name: string): boolean {
-  return /\.[A-Za-z0-9]{2,5}$/.test(name)
-}
-
-export function attachmentFilename(r2Key: string, index: number, contentType?: string): string {
-  const ext =
-    ATTACHMENT_EXTENSIONS[(contentType ?? "").trim().toLowerCase()] ?? EXTENSION_FALLBACK
-  const tail = r2Key.split("/").pop() ?? ""
-  const cleaned = tail.replace(/[^A-Za-z0-9._-]+/g, "_").replace(/^\.+/, "")
-  if (cleaned.length === 0) return `photo-${index + 1}${ext}`
-  if (hasExtension(cleaned)) return cleaned.slice(0, 120)
-  return `${cleaned.slice(0, 120 - ext.length)}${ext}`
-}
-
 export interface ReportPacket {
   subject: string
   text: string
diff --git a/services/api/src/services/admin/mail-repository.drizzle.ts b/services/api/src/services/admin/mail-repository.drizzle.ts
index 34cdaf01..147d93ba 100644
--- a/services/api/src/services/admin/mail-repository.drizzle.ts
+++ b/services/api/src/services/admin/mail-repository.drizzle.ts
@@ -42,7 +42,6 @@ import {
   type ThreadInit,
 } from "./mail-repository.js"
 import type {
-  MailAttachment,
   MailDirection,
   MailStatsResponse,
   MailStatus,
@@ -792,10 +791,9 @@ export function makeDrizzleMailRepository(sql: Sql): MailRepository {
           subject: string | null
           body: string | null
           html: string | null
-          attachments: MailAttachment[] | null
         }[]
       >`
-        SELECT id, to_addr, subject, body, html, attachments
+        SELECT id, to_addr, subject, body, html
         FROM mail_messages
         WHERE id = ${messageId} AND direction = 'out'
         LIMIT 1
@@ -808,7 +806,6 @@ export function makeDrizzleMailRepository(sql: Sql): MailRepository {
         subject: row.subject,
         body: row.body ?? "",
         html: row.html,
-        attachments: row.attachments ?? [],
       }
     },
 
diff --git a/services/api/src/services/admin/mail-repository.memory.ts b/services/api/src/services/admin/mail-repository.memory.ts
index e4033c25..2e8e5f9b 100644
--- a/services/api/src/services/admin/mail-repository.memory.ts
+++ b/services/api/src/services/admin/mail-repository.memory.ts
@@ -596,7 +596,6 @@ export class InMemoryMailRepository implements MailRepository {
       subject: m.subject,
       body: m.body ?? "",
       html: m.html,
-      attachments: m.attachments,
     })
   }
 
diff --git a/services/api/src/services/admin/mail-repository.ts b/services/api/src/services/admin/mail-repository.ts
index 0c78394d..ca04a7af 100644
--- a/services/api/src/services/admin/mail-repository.ts
+++ b/services/api/src/services/admin/mail-repository.ts
@@ -142,7 +142,6 @@ export interface OutboundMessageSnapshot {
   subject: string | null
   body: string
   html: string | null
-  attachments: MailAttachment[]
 }
 
 export interface RecordEventInput {
diff --git a/services/api/src/services/admin/mail-service.ts b/services/api/src/services/admin/mail-service.ts
index 90371dbf..3e04f363 100644
--- a/services/api/src/services/admin/mail-service.ts
+++ b/services/api/src/services/admin/mail-service.ts
@@ -11,20 +11,12 @@ import type {
 } from "@civfix/shared"
 import type { ListThreadsInput, MailRepository } from "./mail-repository.drizzle.js"
 import { domainOf } from "../../adapters/mail-text.js"
-import type { PacketAttachment } from "./outbound-mail-service.js"
-import { attachmentContentType, SEND_IN_FLIGHT_CONFLICT } from "./admin-report-service.js"
-import {
-  MAX_PACKET_ATTACHMENTS,
-  MAX_PACKET_ATTACHMENT_BYTES,
-  MAX_PACKET_TOTAL_BYTES,
-} from "./mail-format.js"
-import { mapWithLimit, PRESIGN_CONCURRENCY } from "../media-presign.js"
+import { SEND_IN_FLIGHT_CONFLICT } from "./admin-report-service.js"
 import type { OutboundMailService } from "./outbound-mail-service.js"
 
 export interface MailServiceDeps {
   repo: MailRepository
   outboundMail: OutboundMailService
-  loadAttachmentBytes?: (key: string) => Promise<Uint8Array | null>
 }
 
 export interface MailService {
@@ -41,37 +33,6 @@ export interface MailService {
 export function makeMailService(deps: MailServiceDeps): MailService {
   const { repo, outboundMail } = deps
 
-  async function replayAttachments(
-    attachments: readonly { key: string; filename: string }[],
-  ): Promise<PacketAttachment[]> {
-    const load = deps.loadAttachmentBytes
-    if (load === undefined) return []
-    let total = 0
-    const loaded = await mapWithLimit(
-      attachments.slice(0, MAX_PACKET_ATTACHMENTS),
-      PRESIGN_CONCURRENCY,
-      async (att) => {
-        if (total >= MAX_PACKET_TOTAL_BYTES) return null
-        const bytes = await load(att.key)
-        if (bytes === null || bytes.byteLength > MAX_PACKET_ATTACHMENT_BYTES) return null
-        if (total + bytes.byteLength > MAX_PACKET_TOTAL_BYTES) return null
-        total += bytes.byteLength
-        return { key: att.key, filename: att.filename, bytes }
-      },
-    )
-    const replayed: PacketAttachment[] = []
-    for (const att of loaded) {
-      if (att === null) continue
-      replayed.push({
-        key: att.key,
-        filename: att.filename,
-        contentType: attachmentContentType(null, att.bytes),
-        content: att.bytes,
-      })
-    }
-    return replayed
-  }
-
   async function requireThreadDTO(id: string): Promise<MailThreadDTO> {
     const dto = await repo.getThread(id)
     if (!dto) throw AppError.notFound("Mail thread not found")
@@ -171,13 +132,11 @@ export function makeMailService(deps: MailServiceDeps): MailService {
         throw AppError.validation({ to: "No recipient address on this thread to resend to." })
       }
       const subject = last.subject ?? thread.subject ?? ""
-      const attachments = await replayAttachments(last.attachments)
       await outboundMail.appendOutbound(id, {
         body: last.body,
         toAddr,
         ...(subject.length > 0 ? { subject } : {}),
         ...(last.html !== null ? { html: last.html } : {}),
-        ...(attachments.length > 0 ? { attachments } : {}),
         kind: "resend",
         audit: { actorId, action: "mail.resent", meta: { to: toAddr } },
       })
diff --git a/services/api/src/services/admin/outbound-mail-service.ts b/services/api/src/services/admin/outbound-mail-service.ts
index 175a3733..28e90252 100644
--- a/services/api/src/services/admin/outbound-mail-service.ts
+++ b/services/api/src/services/admin/outbound-mail-service.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { AppError, ErrorCode } from "@civfix/shared"
-import type { Mailer, OutboundAttachment, SentMail } from "@civfix/shared/interfaces"
+import type { Mailer, SentMail } from "@civfix/shared/interfaces"
 import type { DbHandle } from "../../db/client.js"
 import type { Env } from "../../env/types.js"
 import {
@@ -10,10 +10,9 @@ import {
   type MailRepository,
   type MailThreadRecord,
 } from "./mail-repository.drizzle.js"
-import type { MailAttachment, MailStatus } from "@civfix/shared"
+import type { MailStatus } from "@civfix/shared"
 import { domainOf } from "../../adapters/mail-text.js"
 import {
-  base64Bytes,
   outboundSendDeadlineMs,
   phaseBudgetFor,
   OUTBOUND_SEND_MIN_THROUGHPUT_BPS,
@@ -25,10 +24,6 @@ export interface OutboundMailEnv {
   MAIL_REPLY_DOMAIN: string
 }
 
-export interface PacketAttachment extends OutboundAttachment {
-  key?: string
-}
-
 export interface OutboundMailLogger {
   warn(obj: unknown, msg?: string): void
 }
@@ -62,7 +57,6 @@ export interface AppendOutboundInput {
   toAddr: string
   subject?: string
   html?: string
-  attachments?: PacketAttachment[]
   kind?: MailMessageKind
   audit?: OutboundAudit
   eventMeta?: Record<string, unknown>
@@ -76,7 +70,6 @@ export interface SendReportInput {
   subject: string
   text: string
   html?: string
-  attachments?: PacketAttachment[]
   kind?: MailMessageKind
   audit?: MailAuditInput
 }
@@ -147,27 +140,10 @@ export function isOutboundSendDeadlineError(err: unknown): boolean {
   return (err as { outboundSendDeadline?: unknown }).outboundSendDeadline === true
 }
 
-export function attachmentMetadata(
-  attachments: readonly PacketAttachment[] | undefined,
-): MailAttachment[] {
-  const stored: MailAttachment[] = []
-  for (const att of attachments ?? []) {
-    if (att.key === undefined || att.key === "") continue
-    stored.push({ key: att.key, filename: att.filename, size: att.content.byteLength })
-  }
-  return stored
-}
-
-export function outboundPayloadBytes(input: {
-  body: string
-  html?: string | undefined
-  attachments?: readonly OutboundAttachment[] | undefined
-}): number {
+export function outboundPayloadBytes(input: { body: string; html?: string | undefined }): number {
   let bytes = Buffer.byteLength(input.body, "utf8")
   if (input.html !== undefined) bytes += Buffer.byteLength(input.html, "utf8")
-  let attachmentBytes = 0
-  for (const att of input.attachments ?? []) attachmentBytes += att.content.byteLength
-  return bytes + base64Bytes(attachmentBytes)
+  return bytes
 }
 
 function raceDeadline<T>(work: Promise<T>, ms: number): Promise<T> {
@@ -202,7 +178,6 @@ export function makeOutboundMailService(deps: OutboundMailServiceDeps): Outbound
     subject: string
     body: string
     html?: string
-    attachments?: PacketAttachment[]
     eventMeta?: Record<string, unknown>
     onLateSuccess?: (() => Promise<void>) | undefined
   }): Promise<string> {
@@ -211,11 +186,7 @@ export function makeOutboundMailService(deps: OutboundMailServiceDeps): Outbound
     const inReplyTo = priorIds.length > 0 ? priorIds[priorIds.length - 1] : undefined
     const references =
       priorIds.length > 10 ? [priorIds[0] as string, ...priorIds.slice(-9)] : priorIds
-    const bytes = outboundPayloadBytes({
-      body: args.body,
-      html: args.html,
-      attachments: args.attachments,
-    })
+    const bytes = outboundPayloadBytes({ body: args.body, html: args.html })
     const deadlineMs =
       deps.sendDeadlineMs ??
       outboundSendDeadlineMs({
@@ -233,7 +204,6 @@ export function makeOutboundMailService(deps: OutboundMailServiceDeps): Outbound
       messageId: rfcMessageId,
       ...(inReplyTo !== undefined ? { inReplyTo } : {}),
       ...(references.length > 0 ? { references } : {}),
-      ...(args.attachments !== undefined ? { attachments: args.attachments } : {}),
     })
 
     async function recordFailed(err: unknown, extra: Record<string, unknown>): Promise<void> {
@@ -397,7 +367,6 @@ export function makeOutboundMailService(deps: OutboundMailServiceDeps): Outbound
       thread.subject = input.subject
     }
     const fromHeader = fromHeaderForThread(thread)
-    const attachments = attachmentMetadata(input.attachments)
     const message = await insertOut({
       threadId: thread.id,
       direction: "out",
@@ -407,7 +376,6 @@ export function makeOutboundMailService(deps: OutboundMailServiceDeps): Outbound
       body: input.text,
       kind: input.kind ?? "packet",
       ...(input.html !== undefined ? { html: input.html } : {}),
-      ...(attachments.length > 0 ? { attachments } : {}),
       ...(input.audit
         ? {
             audit: {
@@ -429,7 +397,6 @@ export function makeOutboundMailService(deps: OutboundMailServiceDeps): Outbound
           subject: input.subject,
           body: input.text,
           ...(input.html !== undefined ? { html: input.html } : {}),
-          ...(input.attachments !== undefined ? { attachments: input.attachments } : {}),
           eventMeta: {
             reportId: input.reportId,
             ...(input.geoid != null ? { geoid: input.geoid } : {}),
@@ -565,7 +532,6 @@ export function makeOutboundMailService(deps: OutboundMailServiceDeps): Outbound
       }
       const subject = input.subject ?? replySubject(thread.subject)
       const fromHeader = fromHeaderForThread(thread)
-      const attachments = attachmentMetadata(input.attachments)
       const message = await insertOut({
         threadId: thread.id,
         direction: "out",
@@ -575,7 +541,6 @@ export function makeOutboundMailService(deps: OutboundMailServiceDeps): Outbound
         body: input.body,
         kind: input.kind ?? "reply",
         ...(input.html !== undefined ? { html: input.html } : {}),
-        ...(attachments.length > 0 ? { attachments } : {}),
         ...(input.audit ? { audit: { ...input.audit, target: `mail:${thread.id}` } } : {}),
       })
       await deliverAndRecord({
@@ -586,7 +551,6 @@ export function makeOutboundMailService(deps: OutboundMailServiceDeps): Outbound
         subject,
         body: input.body,
         ...(input.html !== undefined ? { html: input.html } : {}),
-        ...(input.attachments !== undefined ? { attachments: input.attachments } : {}),
         ...(input.eventMeta !== undefined ? { eventMeta: input.eventMeta } : {}),
       })
       return freshThread(thread)
diff --git a/services/api/src/services/admin/outbound-send-policy.ts b/services/api/src/services/admin/outbound-send-policy.ts
index 96bc25b0..2f4a34c2 100644
--- a/services/api/src/services/admin/outbound-send-policy.ts
+++ b/services/api/src/services/admin/outbound-send-policy.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-import { MAX_PACKET_TOTAL_BYTES } from "./mail-format.js"
-
 export const OUTBOUND_SEND_PHASE_BUDGET_MS = 45_000
 
+export const OUTBOUND_PAYLOAD_BUDGET_BYTES = 8 * 1024 * 1024
+
 export const OUTBOUND_SEND_MIN_THROUGHPUT_BPS = 256 * 1024
 
 export const OUTBOUND_SEND_MIN_THROUGHPUT_FLOOR_BPS = 1024
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ export function maxOutboundSendDeadlineMs(input: {
   minThroughputBytesPerSec: number
 }): number {
   return outboundSendDeadlineMs({
-    bytes: base64Bytes(MAX_PACKET_TOTAL_BYTES),
+    bytes: base64Bytes(OUTBOUND_PAYLOAD_BUDGET_BYTES),
     phaseBudgetMs: phaseBudgetFor(input.smtpTimeoutMs),
     minThroughputBytesPerSec: input.minThroughputBytesPerSec,
   })
diff --git a/services/api/test/unit/admin-mail-repository.test.ts b/services/api/test/unit/admin-mail-repository.test.ts
index 83c753b7..8e9d57da 100644
--- a/services/api/test/unit/admin-mail-repository.test.ts
+++ b/services/api/test/unit/admin-mail-repository.test.ts
@@ -488,7 +488,6 @@ describe("InMemoryMailRepository: outbound snapshot + failure recording", () =>
       subject: "civfix report: Pothole",
       body: "second",
       html: "<p>second</p>",
-      attachments: [{ key: "media/r2/a.jpg", filename: "a.jpg", size: 4 }],
     })
   })
 
diff --git a/services/api/test/unit/admin-mail.test.ts b/services/api/test/unit/admin-mail.test.ts
index d8189969..dc995991 100644
--- a/services/api/test/unit/admin-mail.test.ts
+++ b/services/api/test/unit/admin-mail.test.ts
@@ -15,24 +15,18 @@ interface Harness {
   repo: InMemoryMailRepository
   mailer: FakeMailer
   svc: MailService
-  objects: Map<string, Uint8Array>
 }
 
 function harness(): Harness {
   const repo = new InMemoryMailRepository()
   const mailer = new FakeMailer()
-  const objects = new Map<string, Uint8Array>()
   const outboundMail = makeOutboundMailService({
     repo,
     mailer,
     env: { MAIL_FROM_OUTREACH: FROM_OUTREACH, MAIL_REPLY_DOMAIN: "civfix.org" },
   })
-  const svc = makeMailService({
-    repo,
-    outboundMail,
-    loadAttachmentBytes: (key) => Promise.resolve(objects.get(key) ?? null),
-  })
-  return { repo, mailer, svc, objects }
+  const svc = makeMailService({ repo, outboundMail })
+  return { repo, mailer, svc }
 }
 
 describe("mail-service recipient-resolution helpers", () => {
@@ -372,10 +366,9 @@ describe("mail-service: resend", () => {
     expect(mailer.sent.at(-1)?.to).toBe("mayor@city.gov")
   })
 
-  it("replays the untruncated body, the html part and the stored attachments", async () => {
+  it("replays the untruncated body and the html part, never a stored attachment", async () => {
     const h = harness()
     const body = "x".repeat(100_000)
-    h.objects.set("media/r2/photo.jpg", new Uint8Array([0xff, 0xd8, 0xff, 0x01]))
     const t = await h.repo.createThread({ subject: "Pothole", org: "City of LA" })
     await h.repo.insertMessage({
       threadId: t.id,
@@ -398,12 +391,11 @@ describe("mail-service: resend", () => {
     expect(sent?.text).toBe(body)
     expect(sent?.html).toBe("<p>packet</p>")
     expect(sent?.subject).toBe("civfix report: Pothole")
-    expect(sent?.attachments?.map((a) => a.filename)).toEqual(["photo.jpg"])
-    expect(sent?.attachments?.[0]?.contentType).toBe("image/jpeg")
+    expect(sent?.attachments).toBeUndefined()
     const replayed = h.repo.messagesOf(t.id).at(-1)
     expect(replayed?.kind).toBe("resend")
     expect(replayed?.html).toBe("<p>packet</p>")
-    expect(replayed?.attachments).toEqual([{ key: "media/r2/photo.jpg", filename: "photo.jpg", size: 4 }])
+    expect(replayed?.attachments).toEqual([])
   })
 
   it("404s an unknown thread and 422s a thread with no outbound message to resend", async () => {
diff --git a/services/api/test/unit/admin-reports.test.ts b/services/api/test/unit/admin-reports.test.ts
index b34845d0..c1895e21 100644
--- a/services/api/test/unit/admin-reports.test.ts
+++ b/services/api/test/unit/admin-reports.test.ts
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ import {
 import { InMemoryMailRepository } from "../../src/services/admin/mail-repository.memory.js"
 import { InMemoryForwardTemplateRepository } from "../../src/services/admin/forward-template-repository.memory.js"
 import { RecordingNotifier } from "../helpers/notifications.js"
-import { MAX_PACKET_TOTAL_BYTES } from "../../src/services/admin/mail-format.js"
 import {
   makeOutboundMailService,
   OutboundSendDeadlineError,
@@ -1457,10 +1456,8 @@ describe("F009 routeToJurisdiction concurrent double-send guard", () => {
   })
 })
 
-describe("F108 report-packet attachments are bounded in AGGREGATE, not just per file", () => {
-  const FOUR_MB = 4 * 1024 * 1024
-
-  function harnessWithMedia(count: number, bytesEach: number) {
+describe("report packets carry media as links, never as attachments", () => {
+  function harnessWithMedia() {
     const repo = new InMemoryAdminReportRepository()
     repo.now = NOW
     const mailRepo = new InMemoryMailRepository()
@@ -1470,16 +1467,11 @@ describe("F108 report-packet attachments are bounded in AGGREGATE, not just per
       mailer,
       env: { MAIL_FROM_OUTREACH: "outreach@civfix.org", MAIL_REPLY_DOMAIN: "civfix.org" },
     })
-    const loaded: string[] = []
     const svc = makeAdminReportService({
       repo,
       outboundMail,
       now: () => NOW,
       presignMedia: async (r2Key) => ({ url: `https://media.test/${r2Key}` }),
-      loadMediaBytes: (r2Key) => {
-        loaded.push(r2Key)
-        return Promise.resolve(new Uint8Array(bytesEach))
-      },
     })
     repo.seedReport({
       id: "rep-1",
@@ -1493,49 +1485,31 @@ describe("F108 report-packet attachments are bounded in AGGREGATE, not just per
         contact: "311@lacity.gov",
         routed: false,
       },
-      media: Array.from({ length: count }, (_, i) => ({
-        id: `m-${i}`,
-        kind: "image" as const,
-        r2Key: `media/photo-${i}.jpg`,
-        thumbKey: null,
-        contentType: "image/jpeg",
-      })),
-    })
-    return { repo, mailer, svc, loaded }
+      media: [
+        { id: "m-0", kind: "image" as const, r2Key: "media/photo-0.jpg", thumbKey: null },
+        { id: "m-1", kind: "image" as const, r2Key: "media/photo-1.jpg", thumbKey: null },
+        { id: "m-2", kind: "video" as const, r2Key: "media/clip-0.mp4", thumbKey: null },
+      ],
+    })
+    return { mailRepo, mailer, svc }
   }
 
-  it("stops attaching once the running total would exceed MAX_PACKET_TOTAL_BYTES", async () => {
-    const h = harnessWithMedia(4, FOUR_MB)
-    await h.svc.routeToJurisdiction("rep-1", {
-      note: null,
-      actorId: "op-1",
-    })
-    const sent = h.mailer.sent.at(-1)?.outbound
-    expect(sent?.attachments).toHaveLength(2)
-    const total = (sent?.attachments ?? []).reduce((n, a) => n + a.content.byteLength, 0)
-    expect(total).toBeLessThanOrEqual(MAX_PACKET_TOTAL_BYTES)
+  it("sends no attachments and stores none on the outbound row", async () => {
+    const h = harnessWithMedia()
+    const { threadId } = await h.svc.routeToJurisdiction("rep-1", { note: null, actorId: "op-1" })
+    expect(h.mailer.sent.at(-1)?.outbound?.attachments).toBeUndefined()
+    expect(h.mailRepo.messagesOf(threadId).map((m) => m.attachments)).toEqual([[]])
   })
 
-  it("still lists every skipped photo as a presigned mediaLink so nothing is lost from the packet", async () => {
-    const h = harnessWithMedia(4, FOUR_MB)
-    await h.svc.routeToJurisdiction("rep-1", {
-      note: null,
-      actorId: "op-1",
-    })
-    const body = h.mailer.sent.at(-1)?.outbound?.text ?? ""
-    for (let i = 0; i < 4; i++) {
-      expect(body).toContain(`https://media.test/media/photo-${i}.jpg`)
+  it("links every photo and video in the text and html parts", async () => {
+    const h = harnessWithMedia()
+    await h.svc.routeToJurisdiction("rep-1", { note: null, actorId: "op-1" })
+    const sent = h.mailer.sent.at(-1)?.outbound
+    for (const key of ["media/photo-0.jpg", "media/photo-1.jpg", "media/clip-0.mp4"]) {
+      expect(sent?.text).toContain(`https://media.test/${key}`)
+      expect(sent?.html).toContain(`https://media.test/${key}`)
     }
   })
-
-  it("attaches every photo when the aggregate stays under the cap", async () => {
-    const h = harnessWithMedia(4, 512 * 1024)
-    await h.svc.routeToJurisdiction("rep-1", {
-      note: null,
-      actorId: "op-1",
-    })
-    expect(h.mailer.sent.at(-1)?.outbound?.attachments).toHaveLength(4)
-  })
 })
 
 describe("runAutoForwardWith delegates the duplicate-send decision", () => {
diff --git a/services/api/test/unit/outbound-mail-service.test.ts b/services/api/test/unit/outbound-mail-service.test.ts
index cb3074b0..f50a8571 100644
--- a/services/api/test/unit/outbound-mail-service.test.ts
+++ b/services/api/test/unit/outbound-mail-service.test.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { describe, it, expect } from "vitest"
 import { FakeMailer } from "@civfix/shared/fakes"
-import type { Mailer, OutboundAttachment, SentMail } from "@civfix/shared/interfaces"
+import type { Mailer, SentMail } from "@civfix/shared/interfaces"
 import { InMemoryMailRepository } from "../../src/services/admin/mail-repository.memory.js"
 import {
   assertOutboundSendPolicy,
@@ -42,13 +42,8 @@ function harness(): {
 }
 
 describe("OutboundMailService.sendReportToJurisdiction", () => {
-  function png(): OutboundAttachment {
-    return { filename: "photo.png", contentType: "image/png", content: new Uint8Array([1, 2, 3, 4]) }
-  }
-
-  it("sends a per-report packet via sendOutbound From the report- reply address, no Reply-To, + attachments", async () => {
+  it("sends a per-report packet via sendOutbound From the report- reply address, no Reply-To, no attachments", async () => {
     const { repo, mailer, svc } = harness()
-    const attachments = [png()]
     const { thread, messageId } = await svc.sendReportToJurisdiction({
       reportId: "report-1",
       geoid: "0644000",
@@ -57,7 +52,6 @@ describe("OutboundMailService.sendReportToJurisdiction", () => {
       subject: "civfix report: Pothole [abcd1234]",
       text: "A pothole on Main St.",
       html: "<p>A pothole on Main St.</p>",
-      attachments,
     })
 
     expect(thread.reportId).toBe("report-1")
@@ -73,9 +67,7 @@ describe("OutboundMailService.sendReportToJurisdiction", () => {
     expect(env?.to).toBe("clerk@lacity.gov")
     expect(env?.subject).toBe("civfix report: Pothole [abcd1234]")
     expect(env?.html).toBe("<p>A pothole on Main St.</p>")
-    expect(env?.attachments).toHaveLength(1)
-    expect(env?.attachments?.[0]?.filename).toBe("photo.png")
-    expect(env?.attachments?.[0]?.contentType).toBe("image/png")
+    expect(env?.attachments).toBeUndefined()
     expect(messageId).toMatch(/^<out-.+@civfix\.org>$/)
     expect(env?.messageId).toBe(messageId)
 
@@ -407,7 +399,7 @@ describe("OutboundMailService — F109: a delivered send never throws post-deliv
 })
 
 describe("OutboundMailService: the outbound row is a true snapshot of what was sent", () => {
-  it("stores the per-thread From, the html part, the kind and the attachment metadata", async () => {
+  it("stores the per-thread From, the html part and the kind, with no attachments", async () => {
     const { repo, svc } = harness()
     const { thread } = await svc.sendReportToJurisdiction({
       reportId: "report-1",
@@ -416,17 +408,13 @@ describe("OutboundMailService: the outbound row is a true snapshot of what was s
       subject: "civfix report: Pothole",
       text: "A pothole on Main St.",
       html: "<p>A pothole on Main St.</p>",
-      attachments: [
-        { key: "media/r2/photo.jpg", filename: "photo.jpg", contentType: "image/jpeg", content: new Uint8Array([1, 2, 3]) },
-        { filename: "keyless.jpg", contentType: "image/jpeg", content: new Uint8Array([4]) },
-      ],
     })
 
     const stored = repo.messagesOf(thread.id)[0]
     expect(stored?.fromAddr).toBe(`"civfix Reports" <report-${thread.threadToken}@civfix.org>`)
     expect(stored?.html).toBe("<p>A pothole on Main St.</p>")
     expect(stored?.kind).toBe("packet")
-    expect(stored?.attachments).toEqual([{ key: "media/r2/photo.jpg", filename: "photo.jpg", size: 3 }])
+    expect(stored?.attachments).toEqual([])
   })
 
   it("stamps the kind each entry point owns", async () => {
@@ -838,18 +826,10 @@ describe("OutboundMailService: total send deadline", () => {
     expect(eightMiB).toBeGreaterThan(oneMiB)
   })
 
-  it("payload bytes count the text, the html part and attachments AS BASE64 (what goes on the wire)", () => {
+  it("payload bytes count the text and the html part in UTF-8", () => {
     expect(outboundPayloadBytes({ body: "abc" })).toBe(3)
     expect(outboundPayloadBytes({ body: "abc", html: "<p>de</p>" })).toBe(3 + 9)
-    expect(
-      outboundPayloadBytes({
-        body: "abc",
-        attachments: [
-          { filename: "a.jpg", contentType: "image/jpeg", content: new Uint8Array(1000) },
-          { filename: "b.jpg", contentType: "image/jpeg", content: new Uint8Array(2000) },
-        ],
-      }),
-    ).toBe(3 + base64Bytes(3000))
+    expect(outboundPayloadBytes({ body: "é" })).toBe(2)
     expect(base64Bytes(3000)).toBe(4000)
   })