diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index ed0799ac52..8ba5efcad7 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ on:
 
 jobs:
   release:
+    permissions:
+      contents: write
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     env:
       BAZELISK_SKIP_VERSION_CHECK: "1"
@@ -31,7 +33,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@3d3c42e5aac5ba805825da76410c181273ba90b1 # v7.0.1
         with:
-          token: ${{ secrets.PAT_TOKEN }}
+          token: ${{ github.token }}
       - name: Check Actor
         run: |
           # Release actor should be in the OWNER list
@@ -108,20 +110,10 @@ jobs:
           git push https://${{ github.token }}@github.com/${{ github.repository }}.git \
             automated-release-${{ github.event.inputs.releaseVersion }}:automated-release-${{ github.event.inputs.releaseVersion }}
           git push https://${{ github.token }}@github.com/${{ github.repository }}.git v${{ github.event.inputs.releaseVersion }}
-      - name: Pull Request
-        if: ${{ github.event.inputs.dry-run != 'true' }}
-        env:
-          GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.PAT_TOKEN }}
-        run: |
-          gh pr create \
-            --base ${{ github.ref_name }} \
-            --head automated-release-${{ github.event.inputs.releaseVersion }} \
-            --title "Automated Release: ${{ github.event.inputs.releaseVersion }}" \
-            --body ""
       - name: Publish Release
         if: ${{ github.event.inputs.dry-run != 'true' }}
         env:
-          GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.PAT_TOKEN }}
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
         run: |
           gh release create v${{ github.event.inputs.releaseVersion }} \
             --title "v${{ github.event.inputs.releaseVersion }}" \