diff --git a/java/arcs/tools/README.md b/java/arcs/tools/README.md
index 5f2d507fc1a..d462b71af4d 100644
--- a/java/arcs/tools/README.md
+++ b/java/arcs/tools/README.md
@@ -46,3 +46,15 @@ into textprotos.
 ```
 $ bazel run --run_under="cd $PWD && " //java/arcs/tools:inspect_manifest -- ./ok_check_multiple_or_tags.binarypb ./ok_check_multiple_or_tags.textproto
 ```
+
+## verify_policy
+
+Verifies that all recipes in an Arcs manifest file comply with their policies.
+
+```
+# bazel run //java/arcs/tools:verify_policy -- /absolute/path/to/binary_manifest.binarypb
+```
+
+Options: 
+- `-d, --debug`: Turn on debug tracing
+- `--help`: Display usage info
diff --git a/java/arcs/tools/VerifyPolicy.kt b/java/arcs/tools/VerifyPolicy.kt
index 8f00c9dc7c2..d42fcdb0f97 100644
--- a/java/arcs/tools/VerifyPolicy.kt
+++ b/java/arcs/tools/VerifyPolicy.kt
@@ -4,21 +4,30 @@ import arcs.core.analysis.PolicyVerifier
 import arcs.core.data.proto.ManifestProto
 import arcs.core.data.proto.decodeRecipes
 import arcs.core.policy.proto.decode
+import arcs.core.util.Log
 import com.github.ajalt.clikt.core.CliktCommand
 import com.github.ajalt.clikt.core.CliktError
+import com.github.ajalt.clikt.parameters.arguments.argument
+import com.github.ajalt.clikt.parameters.options.flag
 import com.github.ajalt.clikt.parameters.options.option
-import com.github.ajalt.clikt.parameters.options.required
 import com.github.ajalt.clikt.parameters.types.file
 
 class VerifyPolicy : CliktCommand(
   name = "verify_policy",
-  help = "Verifies that all recipes in an Arcs manifest file comply with their policies."
+  help = "Verifies that all recipes in an Arcs manifest file comply with their policies.",
+  printHelpOnEmptyArgs = true
 ) {
-  val manifest by option(
+  val manifest by argument(
     help = "Arcs manifest to check, encoded as a binary proto file (.binarypb)"
-  ).file().required()
+  ).file()
+
+  val debug by option("-d", "--debug", help = "Turn on debug tracing")
+    .flag(default = false)
 
   override fun run() {
+    if (debug) {
+      Log.level = Log.Level.Debug
+    }
     val manifestProto = ManifestProto.parseFrom(manifest.readBytes())
 
     val recipes = manifestProto.decodeRecipes()
diff --git a/third_party/java/arcs/build_defs/internal/tools.oss.bzl b/third_party/java/arcs/build_defs/internal/tools.oss.bzl
index e25e545f639..1d9e8567312 100644
--- a/third_party/java/arcs/build_defs/internal/tools.oss.bzl
+++ b/third_party/java/arcs/build_defs/internal/tools.oss.bzl
@@ -74,7 +74,6 @@ def arcs_tool_verify_policy(name, manifest_proto):
         name = name,
         test_binary = "//java/arcs/tools:verify_policy",
         test_args = [
-            "--manifest",
             "$(rootpath %s)" % manifest_proto,
         ],
         data = [