diff --git a/nipyapi/ci/verify_config.py b/nipyapi/ci/verify_config.py
index e653f83d..5c2d277b 100644
--- a/nipyapi/ci/verify_config.py
+++ b/nipyapi/ci/verify_config.py
@@ -87,11 +87,9 @@ def _verify_controllers(process_group_id: str) -> List[Dict[str, Any]]:
 
 
 def _verify_processors(process_group_id: str) -> List[Dict[str, Any]]:
-    """Verify all processors directly in a process group."""
+    """Verify all processors in a process group and its descendants."""
     processors = nipyapi.canvas.list_all_processors(process_group_id)
-    # Filter to only processors directly in this PG (not descendants)
-    processors = [p for p in processors if p.component.parent_group_id == process_group_id]
-    log.debug("Found %d processors in PG", len(processors))
+    log.debug("Found %d processors in PG and descendants", len(processors))
     return [_verify_single_processor(p) for p in processors]
 
 
@@ -99,6 +97,7 @@ def verify_config(
     process_group_id: Optional[str] = None,
     verify_controllers: bool = True,
     verify_processors: bool = True,
+    only_failures: bool = False,
 ) -> dict:
     """
     Verify configuration of all components in a process group.
@@ -113,10 +112,15 @@ def verify_config(
         process_group_id: ID of the process group. Env: NIFI_PROCESS_GROUP_ID
         verify_controllers: Verify controller services (default: True)
         verify_processors: Verify processors (default: True)
+        only_failures: Only include failed components in results (default: False).
+            When True, controller_results and processor_results contain only
+            items with success=False. Reduces output size for large process groups.
 
     Returns:
         dict with keys: verified ("true"/"false"), failed_count,
         controller_results, processor_results, summary, and process_group_name.
+        When only_failures=True, also includes controllers_checked and
+        processors_checked counts.
         Caller should check verified or failed_count to determine next steps.
 
     Raises:
@@ -127,6 +131,9 @@ def verify_config(
         # CLI usage
         nipyapi ci verify_config --process-group-id <pg-id>
 
+        # Only show failures (cleaner output for large flows)
+        nipyapi ci verify_config --process-group-id <pg-id> --only_failures
+
         # Programmatic usage
         result = nipyapi.ci.verify_config(process_group_id)
         if result["verified"] == "true":
@@ -143,49 +150,55 @@ def verify_config(
     process_group = nipyapi.canvas.get_process_group(process_group_id, "id")
     if not process_group:
         raise ValueError(f"Process group not found: {process_group_id}")
-
-    pg_name = process_group.component.name
-    log.debug("Found process group: %s", pg_name)
+    log.debug("Found process group: %s", process_group.component.name)
 
     # Verify components
     controller_results = _verify_controllers(process_group_id) if verify_controllers else []
     processor_results = _verify_processors(process_group_id) if verify_processors else []
+    all_results = controller_results + processor_results
 
-    # Count failures (results with success=False, excluding skipped)
-    failed_count = sum(
-        1 for r in controller_results + processor_results if r.get("success") is False
-    )
-
-    # Log failures
-    for r in controller_results + processor_results:
+    # Count and log failures (results with success=False, excluding skipped)
+    failed_count = sum(1 for r in all_results if r.get("success") is False)
+    for r in all_results:
         if r.get("success") is False:
             log.warning("%s verification FAILED", r["name"])
 
     # Build summary
-    total_verified = len(controller_results) + len(processor_results)
-    passed = total_verified - failed_count
+    total_verified = len(all_results)
     summary = (
         f"All {total_verified} components passed verification"
         if failed_count == 0
-        else f"{passed}/{total_verified} passed, {failed_count} failed"
+        else f"{total_verified - failed_count}/{total_verified} passed, {failed_count} failed"
     )
-
     log.info("Verification complete: %s", summary)
 
+    # Build result with optional filtering
     result = {
         "verified": "true" if failed_count == 0 else "false",
         "failed_count": failed_count,
-        "controller_results": controller_results,
-        "processor_results": processor_results,
+        "controller_results": (
+            [r for r in controller_results if r.get("success") is False]
+            if only_failures
+            else controller_results
+        ),
+        "processor_results": (
+            [r for r in processor_results if r.get("success") is False]
+            if only_failures
+            else processor_results
+        ),
         "summary": summary,
-        "process_group_name": pg_name,
+        "process_group_name": process_group.component.name,
     }
 
+    # Add checked counts when filtering (so caller knows the scope)
+    if only_failures:
+        result["controllers_checked"] = len(controller_results)
+        result["processors_checked"] = len(processor_results)
+
     # Add error key for CLI exit code detection when verification fails
     if failed_count > 0:
-        failed_names = [
-            r["name"] for r in controller_results + processor_results if r.get("success") is False
-        ]
-        result["error"] = f"Verification failed for: {', '.join(failed_names)}"
+        result["error"] = "Verification failed for: {}".format(
+            ", ".join(r["name"] for r in all_results if r.get("success") is False)
+        )
 
     return result