diff --git a/pkg/features/kube_features.go b/pkg/features/kube_features.go
index 64012406515..3eb4e627081 100644
--- a/pkg/features/kube_features.go
+++ b/pkg/features/kube_features.go
@@ -142,7 +142,8 @@ const (
 	// owner: @mfordjody
 	// alpha: v1.26
 	//
-	// Skip validation Enable in next version
+	// Bypasses obsolete validation that GCP volumes are read-only when used in
+	// Deployments.
 	SkipReadOnlyValidationGCE featuregate.Feature = "SkipReadOnlyValidationGCE"
 
 	// owner: @trierra
@@ -930,7 +931,7 @@ var defaultKubernetesFeatureGates = map[featuregate.Feature]featuregate.FeatureS
 
 	CSIVolumeHealth: {Default: false, PreRelease: featuregate.Alpha},
 
-	SkipReadOnlyValidationGCE: {Default: false, PreRelease: featuregate.Alpha},
+	SkipReadOnlyValidationGCE: {Default: true, PreRelease: featuregate.Deprecated}, // remove in 1.31
 
 	CloudControllerManagerWebhook: {Default: false, PreRelease: featuregate.Alpha},