diff --git a/apps/app/src/app/(app)/[orgId]/frameworks/[frameworkInstanceId]/components/ExpandableDescription.test.tsx b/apps/app/src/app/(app)/[orgId]/frameworks/[frameworkInstanceId]/components/ExpandableDescription.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f567857b62
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/app/src/app/(app)/[orgId]/frameworks/[frameworkInstanceId]/components/ExpandableDescription.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+import { fireEvent, render, screen, within } from '@testing-library/react';
+import { describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
+import { ExpandableDescription } from './ExpandableDescription';
+
+const LONG =
+  'Develop security and privacy plans for the system that are consistent with the enterprise architecture.';
+
+describe('ExpandableDescription', () => {
+  it('renders the description inline with a read-more affordance', () => {
+    render(<ExpandableDescription description={LONG} identifier="PL-2" name="System Security" />);
+    expect(screen.getByText(LONG)).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(
+      screen.getByRole('button', { name: /read full description/i }),
+    ).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it('opens a dialog with the full description and an identifier · name heading', () => {
+    render(<ExpandableDescription description={LONG} identifier="PL-2" name="System Security" />);
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /read full description/i }));
+    const dialog = screen.getByRole('dialog');
+    expect(within(dialog).getByText('PL-2 · System Security')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(within(dialog).getByText(LONG)).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it('renders an em dash and no button when there is no description', () => {
+    render(<ExpandableDescription description={null} identifier="PL-2" name="System Security" />);
+    expect(screen.getByText('—')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.queryByRole('button', { name: /read full description/i })).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it('does not trigger the clickable parent row when expanding', () => {
+    const onRowClick = vi.fn();
+    render(
+      <div onClick={onRowClick}>
+        <ExpandableDescription description={LONG} identifier="PL-2" name="System Security" />
+      </div>,
+    );
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /read full description/i }));
+    expect(onRowClick).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/apps/app/src/app/(app)/[orgId]/frameworks/[frameworkInstanceId]/components/ExpandableDescription.tsx b/apps/app/src/app/(app)/[orgId]/frameworks/[frameworkInstanceId]/components/ExpandableDescription.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..57f5a67dee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/app/src/app/(app)/[orgId]/frameworks/[frameworkInstanceId]/components/ExpandableDescription.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+'use client';
+
+import {
+  Dialog,
+  DialogContent,
+  DialogHeader,
+  DialogTitle,
+} from '@trycompai/design-system';
+import { Maximize } from '@trycompai/design-system/icons';
+import { useState } from 'react';
+
+interface ExpandableDescriptionProps {
+  description: string | null | undefined;
+  identifier?: string | null;
+  name?: string | null;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Read-only requirement description cell. Shows the truncated text inline and,
+ * on hover, a maximize button that opens a dialog with the full description —
+ * long framework requirements (e.g. NIST SP800-53 PL-2) are otherwise
+ * unreadable behind the single-line truncation + native tooltip.
+ */
+export function ExpandableDescription({
+  description,
+  identifier,
+  name,
+}: ExpandableDescriptionProps) {
+  const [isOpen, setIsOpen] = useState(false);
+
+  if (!description) {
+    return <span className="block truncate text-sm">—</span>;
+  }
+
+  const heading = [identifier?.trim(), name].filter(Boolean).join(' · ') || 'Requirement';
+
+  return (
+    <div className="group relative flex items-center">
+      <span className="block truncate pr-6 text-sm" title={description}>
+        {description}
+      </span>
+      <button
+        type="button"
+        aria-label="Read full description"
+        title="Read full description"
+        className="text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground absolute right-0 top-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 rounded-xs p-0.5 opacity-0 transition-opacity group-hover:opacity-100 focus-visible:opacity-100"
+        onClick={(e) => {
+          // The row is a navigation target — don't follow it when expanding.
+          e.stopPropagation();
+          e.preventDefault();
+          setIsOpen(true);
+        }}
+      >
+        <Maximize size={14} />
+      </button>
+
+      <Dialog open={isOpen} onOpenChange={setIsOpen}>
+        <DialogContent size="3xl">
+          <DialogHeader>
+            <DialogTitle>{heading}</DialogTitle>
+          </DialogHeader>
+          <div className="max-h-[70vh] overflow-y-auto whitespace-pre-wrap text-sm leading-relaxed">
+            {description}
+          </div>
+        </DialogContent>
+      </Dialog>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/apps/app/src/app/(app)/[orgId]/frameworks/[frameworkInstanceId]/components/FrameworkRequirements.tsx b/apps/app/src/app/(app)/[orgId]/frameworks/[frameworkInstanceId]/components/FrameworkRequirements.tsx
index 04bdbb62ab..1399b4e70b 100644
--- a/apps/app/src/app/(app)/[orgId]/frameworks/[frameworkInstanceId]/components/FrameworkRequirements.tsx
+++ b/apps/app/src/app/(app)/[orgId]/frameworks/[frameworkInstanceId]/components/FrameworkRequirements.tsx
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import {
 import { Search } from '@trycompai/design-system/icons';
 import { useParams, useRouter } from 'next/navigation';
 import { useEffect, useMemo, useState } from 'react';
+import { ExpandableDescription } from './ExpandableDescription';
 import {
   REQUIREMENTS_TABLE_COLUMN_COUNT,
   REQUIREMENTS_TABLE_STYLE,
@@ -215,9 +216,11 @@ export function FrameworkRequirements({
                     </span>
                   </TableCell>
                   <TableCell>
-                    <span className="block truncate text-sm" title={item.description || ''}>
-                      {item.description || '—'}
-                    </span>
+                    <ExpandableDescription
+                      description={item.description}
+                      identifier={item.identifier}
+                      name={item.name}
+                    />
                   </TableCell>
                   <TableCell>
                     <div className="flex min-w-0 items-center gap-2">
diff --git a/apps/app/src/app/(app)/[orgId]/frameworks/[frameworkInstanceId]/components/GroupedRequirementRow.tsx b/apps/app/src/app/(app)/[orgId]/frameworks/[frameworkInstanceId]/components/GroupedRequirementRow.tsx
index 0e25a56c64..f6cc83fa7c 100644
--- a/apps/app/src/app/(app)/[orgId]/frameworks/[frameworkInstanceId]/components/GroupedRequirementRow.tsx
+++ b/apps/app/src/app/(app)/[orgId]/frameworks/[frameworkInstanceId]/components/GroupedRequirementRow.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { getRequirementStatus } from '@/lib/control-compliance';
 import { Badge, TableCell, TableRow, Text } from '@trycompai/design-system';
 import { Launch } from '@trycompai/design-system/icons';
 import Link from 'next/link';
+import { ExpandableDescription } from './ExpandableDescription';
 import type { RequirementItem } from './framework-controls-shared';
 
 export function GroupedRequirementRow({
@@ -42,9 +43,11 @@ export function GroupedRequirementRow({
         </span>
       </TableCell>
       <TableCell>
-        <span className="block truncate text-sm" title={item.description || ''}>
-          {item.description || '—'}
-        </span>
+        <ExpandableDescription
+          description={item.description}
+          identifier={item.identifier}
+          name={item.name}
+        />
       </TableCell>
       <TableCell>
         <div className="flex min-w-0 items-center gap-2">