Post status cannot be changed without publish_posts cap

[sbressler]

Post statuses cannot be changed without the publish_posts capability. I think it would make more sense to limit status changes to users with edit_posts or edit_others_posts.

[nacin]

Are you referring to custom stati? The current capabilities are enough to handle the built-in statuses.

future and publish require publish caps. pending and draft requires edit_posts. trash and private depend on the situation.

[markjaquith]

This is by design.