[BUG] clauderc file not automatically loaded into context

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• [x] This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
• [x] I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

The .clauderc file exists in the repository root but is not automatically injected into the AI assistant's context at session start. This requires users to manually remind the assistant to read the file, defeating the purpose of having project-specific configuration.

Current behavior: The assistant has no awareness of .clauderc until explicitly reading it via the Read tool.

Environment:

• Claude Model: Sonnet 4.5 (claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929)
• Interface: VSCode Extension
• OS: macOS (Darwin 25.2.0)
• .clauderc file exists and is readable at repository root

What Should Happen?

Similar to how Cursor auto-loads .cursorrules, Claude Code CLI should automatically load .clauderc and make it available in the initial context.

Error Messages/Logs

No indication in system prompt that .clauderc was processed
No error or warning that the file was found but failed to load
Complete absence of the file's content from the initial context

Steps to Reproduce

Steps to reproduce:

1. Create a .clauderc file in repository root with project instructions
2. Start a new Claude Code CLI session in that repository
3. Observe that the assistant doesn't have the .clauderc content in its initial context
4. The assistant needs to manually read the file via the Read tool after being prompted

Claude Model

Not sure / Multiple models

Is this a regression?

I don't know

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

2.1.31

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

VS Code integrated terminal

Additional Information

_No response_