diff --git a/internal/cmd/witness.go b/internal/cmd/witness.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ed466cd8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/cmd/witness.go
@@ -0,0 +1,215 @@
+package cmd
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/config"
+	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/git"
+	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/rig"
+	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/style"
+	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/witness"
+	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/workspace"
+)
+
+// Witness command flags
+var (
+	witnessForeground bool
+	witnessStatusJSON bool
+)
+
+var witnessCmd = &cobra.Command{
+	Use:   "witness",
+	Short: "Manage the polecat monitoring agent",
+	Long: `Manage the Witness monitoring agent for a rig.
+
+The Witness monitors polecats for stuck/idle state, nudges polecats
+that seem blocked, and reports status to the mayor.`,
+}
+
+var witnessStartCmd = &cobra.Command{
+	Use:   "start <rig>",
+	Short: "Start the witness",
+	Long: `Start the Witness for a rig.
+
+Launches the monitoring agent which watches polecats for stuck or idle
+states and takes action to keep work flowing.
+
+Examples:
+  gt witness start gastown
+  gt witness start gastown --foreground`,
+	Args: cobra.ExactArgs(1),
+	RunE: runWitnessStart,
+}
+
+var witnessStopCmd = &cobra.Command{
+	Use:   "stop <rig>",
+	Short: "Stop the witness",
+	Long: `Stop a running Witness.
+
+Gracefully stops the witness monitoring agent.`,
+	Args: cobra.ExactArgs(1),
+	RunE: runWitnessStop,
+}
+
+var witnessStatusCmd = &cobra.Command{
+	Use:   "status <rig>",
+	Short: "Show witness status",
+	Long: `Show the status of a rig's Witness.
+
+Displays running state, monitored polecats, and statistics.`,
+	Args: cobra.ExactArgs(1),
+	RunE: runWitnessStatus,
+}
+
+func init() {
+	// Start flags
+	witnessStartCmd.Flags().BoolVar(&witnessForeground, "foreground", false, "Run in foreground (default: background)")
+
+	// Status flags
+	witnessStatusCmd.Flags().BoolVar(&witnessStatusJSON, "json", false, "Output as JSON")
+
+	// Add subcommands
+	witnessCmd.AddCommand(witnessStartCmd)
+	witnessCmd.AddCommand(witnessStopCmd)
+	witnessCmd.AddCommand(witnessStatusCmd)
+
+	rootCmd.AddCommand(witnessCmd)
+}
+
+// getWitnessManager creates a witness manager for a rig.
+func getWitnessManager(rigName string) (*witness.Manager, *rig.Rig, error) {
+	townRoot, err := workspace.FindFromCwdOrError()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("not in a Gas Town workspace: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	rigsConfigPath := filepath.Join(townRoot, "mayor", "rigs.json")
+	rigsConfig, err := config.LoadRigsConfig(rigsConfigPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		rigsConfig = &config.RigsConfig{Rigs: make(map[string]config.RigEntry)}
+	}
+
+	g := git.NewGit(townRoot)
+	rigMgr := rig.NewManager(townRoot, rigsConfig, g)
+	r, err := rigMgr.GetRig(rigName)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("rig '%s' not found", rigName)
+	}
+
+	mgr := witness.NewManager(r)
+	return mgr, r, nil
+}
+
+func runWitnessStart(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+	rigName := args[0]
+
+	mgr, _, err := getWitnessManager(rigName)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	fmt.Printf("Starting witness for %s...\n", rigName)
+
+	if err := mgr.Start(witnessForeground); err != nil {
+		if err == witness.ErrAlreadyRunning {
+			fmt.Printf("%s Witness is already running\n", style.Dim.Render("⚠"))
+			return nil
+		}
+		return fmt.Errorf("starting witness: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	if witnessForeground {
+		// This will block until stopped
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	fmt.Printf("%s Witness started for %s\n", style.Bold.Render("✓"), rigName)
+	fmt.Printf("  %s\n", style.Dim.Render("Use 'gt witness status' to check progress"))
+	return nil
+}
+
+func runWitnessStop(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+	rigName := args[0]
+
+	mgr, _, err := getWitnessManager(rigName)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	if err := mgr.Stop(); err != nil {
+		if err == witness.ErrNotRunning {
+			fmt.Printf("%s Witness is not running\n", style.Dim.Render("⚠"))
+			return nil
+		}
+		return fmt.Errorf("stopping witness: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	fmt.Printf("%s Witness stopped for %s\n", style.Bold.Render("✓"), rigName)
+	return nil
+}
+
+func runWitnessStatus(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+	rigName := args[0]
+
+	mgr, _, err := getWitnessManager(rigName)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	w, err := mgr.Status()
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("getting status: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	// JSON output
+	if witnessStatusJSON {
+		enc := json.NewEncoder(os.Stdout)
+		enc.SetIndent("", "  ")
+		return enc.Encode(w)
+	}
+
+	// Human-readable output
+	fmt.Printf("%s Witness: %s\n\n", style.Bold.Render("👁"), rigName)
+
+	stateStr := string(w.State)
+	switch w.State {
+	case witness.StateRunning:
+		stateStr = style.Bold.Render("● running")
+	case witness.StateStopped:
+		stateStr = style.Dim.Render("○ stopped")
+	case witness.StatePaused:
+		stateStr = style.Dim.Render("⏸ paused")
+	}
+	fmt.Printf("  State: %s\n", stateStr)
+
+	if w.StartedAt != nil {
+		fmt.Printf("  Started: %s\n", w.StartedAt.Format("2006-01-02 15:04:05"))
+	}
+
+	if w.LastCheckAt != nil {
+		fmt.Printf("  Last check: %s\n", w.LastCheckAt.Format("2006-01-02 15:04:05"))
+	}
+
+	// Show monitored polecats
+	fmt.Printf("\n  %s\n", style.Bold.Render("Monitored Polecats:"))
+	if len(w.MonitoredPolecats) == 0 {
+		fmt.Printf("    %s\n", style.Dim.Render("(none)"))
+	} else {
+		for _, p := range w.MonitoredPolecats {
+			fmt.Printf("    • %s\n", p)
+		}
+	}
+
+	fmt.Printf("\n  %s\n", style.Bold.Render("Statistics:"))
+	fmt.Printf("    Checks today:      %d\n", w.Stats.TodayChecks)
+	fmt.Printf("    Nudges today:      %d\n", w.Stats.TodayNudges)
+	fmt.Printf("    Total checks:      %d\n", w.Stats.TotalChecks)
+	fmt.Printf("    Total nudges:      %d\n", w.Stats.TotalNudges)
+	fmt.Printf("    Total escalations: %d\n", w.Stats.TotalEscalations)
+
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/internal/witness/manager.go b/internal/witness/manager.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4f61a80d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/witness/manager.go
@@ -0,0 +1,196 @@
+package witness
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/rig"
+)
+
+// Common errors
+var (
+	ErrNotRunning     = errors.New("witness not running")
+	ErrAlreadyRunning = errors.New("witness already running")
+)
+
+// Manager handles witness lifecycle and monitoring operations.
+type Manager struct {
+	rig     *rig.Rig
+	workDir string
+}
+
+// NewManager creates a new witness manager for a rig.
+func NewManager(r *rig.Rig) *Manager {
+	return &Manager{
+		rig:     r,
+		workDir: r.Path,
+	}
+}
+
+// stateFile returns the path to the witness state file.
+func (m *Manager) stateFile() string {
+	return filepath.Join(m.rig.Path, ".gastown", "witness.json")
+}
+
+// loadState loads witness state from disk.
+func (m *Manager) loadState() (*Witness, error) {
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(m.stateFile())
+	if err != nil {
+		if os.IsNotExist(err) {
+			return &Witness{
+				RigName: m.rig.Name,
+				State:   StateStopped,
+			}, nil
+		}
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	var w Witness
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(data, &w); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	return &w, nil
+}
+
+// saveState persists witness state to disk.
+func (m *Manager) saveState(w *Witness) error {
+	dir := filepath.Dir(m.stateFile())
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(dir, 0755); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	data, err := json.MarshalIndent(w, "", "  ")
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	return os.WriteFile(m.stateFile(), data, 0644)
+}
+
+// Status returns the current witness status.
+func (m *Manager) Status() (*Witness, error) {
+	w, err := m.loadState()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	// If running, verify process is still alive
+	if w.State == StateRunning && w.PID > 0 {
+		if !processExists(w.PID) {
+			w.State = StateStopped
+			w.PID = 0
+			m.saveState(w)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Update monitored polecats list
+	w.MonitoredPolecats = m.rig.Polecats
+
+	return w, nil
+}
+
+// Start starts the witness.
+// If foreground is true, runs in the current process (blocking).
+// Otherwise, spawns a background process.
+func (m *Manager) Start(foreground bool) error {
+	w, err := m.loadState()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	if w.State == StateRunning && w.PID > 0 && processExists(w.PID) {
+		return ErrAlreadyRunning
+	}
+
+	now := time.Now()
+	w.State = StateRunning
+	w.StartedAt = &now
+	w.PID = os.Getpid() // For foreground mode; background would set actual PID
+	w.MonitoredPolecats = m.rig.Polecats
+
+	if err := m.saveState(w); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	if foreground {
+		// Run the monitoring loop (blocking)
+		return m.run(w)
+	}
+
+	// Background mode: spawn a new process
+	// For MVP, we just mark as running - actual daemon implementation later
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Stop stops the witness.
+func (m *Manager) Stop() error {
+	w, err := m.loadState()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	if w.State != StateRunning {
+		return ErrNotRunning
+	}
+
+	// If we have a PID, try to stop it gracefully
+	if w.PID > 0 && w.PID != os.Getpid() {
+		// Send SIGTERM
+		if proc, err := os.FindProcess(w.PID); err == nil {
+			proc.Signal(os.Interrupt)
+		}
+	}
+
+	w.State = StateStopped
+	w.PID = 0
+
+	return m.saveState(w)
+}
+
+// run is the main monitoring loop (for foreground mode).
+func (m *Manager) run(w *Witness) error {
+	fmt.Println("Witness running...")
+	fmt.Println("Press Ctrl+C to stop")
+
+	ticker := time.NewTicker(30 * time.Second)
+	defer ticker.Stop()
+
+	for {
+		select {
+		case <-ticker.C:
+			// Perform health check
+			if err := m.healthCheck(w); err != nil {
+				fmt.Printf("Health check error: %v\n", err)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// healthCheck performs a health check on all monitored polecats.
+func (m *Manager) healthCheck(w *Witness) error {
+	now := time.Now()
+	w.LastCheckAt = &now
+	w.Stats.TotalChecks++
+	w.Stats.TodayChecks++
+
+	// For MVP, just update state
+	// Future: check keepalive files, nudge idle polecats, escalate stuck ones
+
+	return m.saveState(w)
+}
+
+// processExists checks if a process with the given PID exists.
+func processExists(pid int) bool {
+	proc, err := os.FindProcess(pid)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	// On Unix, FindProcess always succeeds; signal 0 tests existence
+	err = proc.Signal(nil)
+	return err == nil
+}
diff --git a/internal/witness/types.go b/internal/witness/types.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6737524c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/witness/types.go
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+// Package witness provides the polecat monitoring agent.
+package witness
+
+import (
+	"time"
+)
+
+// State represents the witness's running state.
+type State string
+
+const (
+	// StateStopped means the witness is not running.
+	StateStopped State = "stopped"
+
+	// StateRunning means the witness is actively monitoring.
+	StateRunning State = "running"
+
+	// StatePaused means the witness is paused (not monitoring).
+	StatePaused State = "paused"
+)
+
+// Witness represents a rig's polecat monitoring agent.
+type Witness struct {
+	// RigName is the rig this witness monitors.
+	RigName string `json:"rig_name"`
+
+	// State is the current running state.
+	State State `json:"state"`
+
+	// PID is the process ID if running in background.
+	PID int `json:"pid,omitempty"`
+
+	// StartedAt is when the witness was started.
+	StartedAt *time.Time `json:"started_at,omitempty"`
+
+	// MonitoredPolecats tracks polecats being monitored.
+	MonitoredPolecats []string `json:"monitored_polecats,omitempty"`
+
+	// LastCheckAt is when the last health check was performed.
+	LastCheckAt *time.Time `json:"last_check_at,omitempty"`
+
+	// Stats contains cumulative statistics.
+	Stats WitnessStats `json:"stats"`
+}
+
+// WitnessStats contains cumulative witness statistics.
+type WitnessStats struct {
+	// TotalChecks is the total number of health checks performed.
+	TotalChecks int `json:"total_checks"`
+
+	// TotalNudges is the total number of nudges sent to polecats.
+	TotalNudges int `json:"total_nudges"`
+
+	// TotalEscalations is the total number of escalations to mayor.
+	TotalEscalations int `json:"total_escalations"`
+
+	// TodayChecks is the number of checks today.
+	TodayChecks int `json:"today_checks"`
+
+	// TodayNudges is the number of nudges today.
+	TodayNudges int `json:"today_nudges"`
+}