diff --git a/pkg/apis/core/types.go b/pkg/apis/core/types.go
index ec105a41f44..0598bcc7237 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/core/types.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/core/types.go
@@ -3945,7 +3945,6 @@ type ServiceSpec struct {
 	// dropping the traffic if there are no local endpoints. The default value,
 	// "Cluster", uses the standard behavior of routing to all endpoints evenly
 	// (possibly modified by topology and other features).
-	// +featureGate=ServiceInternalTrafficPolicy
 	// +optional
 	InternalTrafficPolicy *ServiceInternalTrafficPolicyType
 }
diff --git a/pkg/apis/core/v1/defaults.go b/pkg/apis/core/v1/defaults.go
index 0d16a8a1bda..b42221691fa 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/core/v1/defaults.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/core/v1/defaults.go
@@ -22,8 +22,6 @@ import (
 	v1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/intstr"
-	utilfeature "k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/util/feature"
-	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/features"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/util/parsers"
 	"k8s.io/utils/pointer"
 )
@@ -130,14 +128,11 @@ func SetDefaults_Service(obj *v1.Service) {
 		obj.Spec.ExternalTrafficPolicy = v1.ServiceExternalTrafficPolicyTypeCluster
 	}
 
-	if utilfeature.DefaultFeatureGate.Enabled(features.ServiceInternalTrafficPolicy) {
-		if obj.Spec.InternalTrafficPolicy == nil {
-			if obj.Spec.Type == v1.ServiceTypeNodePort || obj.Spec.Type == v1.ServiceTypeLoadBalancer || obj.Spec.Type == v1.ServiceTypeClusterIP {
-				serviceInternalTrafficPolicyCluster := v1.ServiceInternalTrafficPolicyCluster
-				obj.Spec.InternalTrafficPolicy = &serviceInternalTrafficPolicyCluster
-			}
+	if obj.Spec.InternalTrafficPolicy == nil {
+		if obj.Spec.Type == v1.ServiceTypeNodePort || obj.Spec.Type == v1.ServiceTypeLoadBalancer || obj.Spec.Type == v1.ServiceTypeClusterIP {
+			serviceInternalTrafficPolicyCluster := v1.ServiceInternalTrafficPolicyCluster
+			obj.Spec.InternalTrafficPolicy = &serviceInternalTrafficPolicyCluster
 		}
-
 	}
 
 	if obj.Spec.Type == v1.ServiceTypeLoadBalancer {
diff --git a/pkg/apis/core/v1/defaults_test.go b/pkg/apis/core/v1/defaults_test.go
index 983ee8318c0..3a93eff021b 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/core/v1/defaults_test.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/core/v1/defaults_test.go
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@ import (
 	featuregatetesting "k8s.io/component-base/featuregate/testing"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/api/legacyscheme"
 	corev1 "k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/apis/core/v1"
-	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/features"
 	utilpointer "k8s.io/utils/pointer"
 
 	// ensure types are installed
@@ -1862,13 +1861,11 @@ func TestSetDefaultServiceInternalTrafficPolicy(t *testing.T) {
 		name                          string
 		expectedInternalTrafficPolicy *v1.ServiceInternalTrafficPolicyType
 		svc                           v1.Service
-		featureGateOn                 bool
 	}{
 		{
 			name:                          "must set default internalTrafficPolicy",
 			expectedInternalTrafficPolicy: &cluster,
 			svc:                           v1.Service{},
-			featureGateOn:                 true,
 		},
 		{
 			name:                          "must not set default internalTrafficPolicy when it's cluster",
@@ -1878,7 +1875,6 @@ func TestSetDefaultServiceInternalTrafficPolicy(t *testing.T) {
 					InternalTrafficPolicy: &cluster,
 				},
 			},
-			featureGateOn: true,
 		},
 		{
 			name:                          "must not set default internalTrafficPolicy when type is ExternalName",
@@ -1888,7 +1884,6 @@ func TestSetDefaultServiceInternalTrafficPolicy(t *testing.T) {
 					Type: v1.ServiceTypeExternalName,
 				},
 			},
-			featureGateOn: true,
 		},
 		{
 			name:                          "must not set default internalTrafficPolicy when it's local",
@@ -1898,18 +1893,10 @@ func TestSetDefaultServiceInternalTrafficPolicy(t *testing.T) {
 					InternalTrafficPolicy: &local,
 				},
 			},
-			featureGateOn: true,
-		},
-		{
-			name:                          "must not set default internalTrafficPolicy when gate is disabled",
-			expectedInternalTrafficPolicy: nil,
-			svc:                           v1.Service{},
-			featureGateOn:                 false,
 		},
 	}
 	for _, test := range testCases {
 		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			defer featuregatetesting.SetFeatureGateDuringTest(t, utilfeature.DefaultFeatureGate, features.ServiceInternalTrafficPolicy, test.featureGateOn)()
 			obj := roundTrip(t, runtime.Object(&test.svc))
 			svc := obj.(*v1.Service)
 
diff --git a/pkg/apis/core/validation/validation.go b/pkg/apis/core/validation/validation.go
index 53ae4988a8c..7b46b7b9498 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/core/validation/validation.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/core/validation/validation.go
@@ -4876,14 +4876,12 @@ func validateServiceExternalTrafficFieldsUpdate(before, after *core.Service) fie
 func validateServiceInternalTrafficFieldsValue(service *core.Service) field.ErrorList {
 	allErrs := field.ErrorList{}
 
-	if utilfeature.DefaultFeatureGate.Enabled(features.ServiceInternalTrafficPolicy) {
-		if service.Spec.InternalTrafficPolicy == nil {
-			// We do not forbid internalTrafficPolicy on other Service types because of historical reasons.
-			// We did not check that before it went beta and we don't want to invalidate existing stored objects.
-			if service.Spec.Type == core.ServiceTypeNodePort ||
-				service.Spec.Type == core.ServiceTypeLoadBalancer || service.Spec.Type == core.ServiceTypeClusterIP {
-				allErrs = append(allErrs, field.Required(field.NewPath("spec").Child("internalTrafficPolicy"), ""))
-			}
+	if service.Spec.InternalTrafficPolicy == nil {
+		// We do not forbid internalTrafficPolicy on other Service types because of historical reasons.
+		// We did not check that before it went beta and we don't want to invalidate existing stored objects.
+		if service.Spec.Type == core.ServiceTypeNodePort ||
+			service.Spec.Type == core.ServiceTypeLoadBalancer || service.Spec.Type == core.ServiceTypeClusterIP {
+			allErrs = append(allErrs, field.Required(field.NewPath("spec").Child("internalTrafficPolicy"), ""))
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/apis/core/validation/validation_test.go b/pkg/apis/core/validation/validation_test.go
index 29c985a216a..c935e6f7384 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/core/validation/validation_test.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/core/validation/validation_test.go
@@ -13335,8 +13335,7 @@ func TestValidateServiceCreate(t *testing.T) {
 			tweakSvc: func(s *core.Service) {
 				s.Spec.InternalTrafficPolicy = nil
 			},
-			featureGates: []featuregate.Feature{features.ServiceInternalTrafficPolicy},
-			numErrs:      1,
+			numErrs: 1,
 		},
 		{
 			name: "internalTrafficPolicy field nil when type is ExternalName",
@@ -13345,8 +13344,7 @@ func TestValidateServiceCreate(t *testing.T) {
 				s.Spec.Type = core.ServiceTypeExternalName
 				s.Spec.ExternalName = "foo.bar.com"
 			},
-			featureGates: []featuregate.Feature{features.ServiceInternalTrafficPolicy},
-			numErrs:      0,
+			numErrs: 0,
 		},
 		{
 			// Typically this should fail validation, but in v1.22 we have existing clusters
@@ -13360,8 +13358,7 @@ func TestValidateServiceCreate(t *testing.T) {
 				s.Spec.Type = core.ServiceTypeExternalName
 				s.Spec.ExternalName = "foo.bar.com"
 			},
-			featureGates: []featuregate.Feature{features.ServiceInternalTrafficPolicy},
-			numErrs:      0,
+			numErrs: 0,
 		},
 		{
 			name: "invalid internalTraffic field",
diff --git a/pkg/features/kube_features.go b/pkg/features/kube_features.go
index 947b481d7d4..6150cffa7cb 100644
--- a/pkg/features/kube_features.go
+++ b/pkg/features/kube_features.go
@@ -720,6 +720,7 @@ const (
 	// kep: https://kep.k8s.io/2086
 	// alpha: v1.21
 	// beta: v1.22
+	// GA: v1.26
 	//
 	// Enables node-local routing for Service internal traffic
 	ServiceInternalTrafficPolicy featuregate.Feature = "ServiceInternalTrafficPolicy"
@@ -1017,7 +1018,7 @@ var defaultKubernetesFeatureGates = map[featuregate.Feature]featuregate.FeatureS
 
 	ServiceIPStaticSubrange: {Default: true, PreRelease: featuregate.GA, LockToDefault: true}, // remove in 1.28
 
-	ServiceInternalTrafficPolicy: {Default: true, PreRelease: featuregate.Beta},
+	ServiceInternalTrafficPolicy: {Default: true, PreRelease: featuregate.GA, LockToDefault: true}, // remove in 1.28
 
 	SizeMemoryBackedVolumes: {Default: true, PreRelease: featuregate.Beta},
 
diff --git a/pkg/proxy/iptables/proxier_test.go b/pkg/proxy/iptables/proxier_test.go
index 6e965f7a7b0..351c01c18a8 100644
--- a/pkg/proxy/iptables/proxier_test.go
+++ b/pkg/proxy/iptables/proxier_test.go
@@ -5275,34 +5275,10 @@ func TestInternalTrafficPolicyE2E(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 		},
-		{
-			name:                  "Local internalTrafficPolicy is ignored when feature gate is off",
-			line:                  getLine(),
-			internalTrafficPolicy: &local,
-			featureGateOn:         false,
-			endpoints: []endpoint{
-				{"10.0.1.1", testHostname},
-				{"10.0.1.2", "host1"},
-				{"10.0.1.3", "host2"},
-			},
-			expectEndpointRule:        false,
-			expectedIPTablesWithSlice: clusterExpectedIPTables,
-			flowTests: []packetFlowTest{
-				{
-					name:     "pod to ClusterIP hits all endpoints",
-					sourceIP: "10.0.0.2",
-					destIP:   "172.30.1.1",
-					destPort: 80,
-					output:   "10.0.1.1:80, 10.0.1.2:80, 10.0.1.3:80",
-					masq:     false,
-				},
-			},
-		},
 	}
 
 	for _, tc := range testCases {
 		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			defer featuregatetesting.SetFeatureGateDuringTest(t, utilfeature.DefaultFeatureGate, features.ServiceInternalTrafficPolicy, tc.featureGateOn)()
 			ipt := iptablestest.NewFake()
 			fp := NewFakeProxier(ipt)
 			fp.OnServiceSynced()
@@ -7434,8 +7410,6 @@ func TestInternalExternalMasquerade(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, tc := range testCases {
 		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			defer featuregatetesting.SetFeatureGateDuringTest(t, utilfeature.DefaultFeatureGate, features.ServiceInternalTrafficPolicy, true)()
-
 			ipt := iptablestest.NewFake()
 			fp := NewFakeProxier(ipt)
 			fp.masqueradeAll = tc.masqueradeAll
@@ -8274,7 +8248,6 @@ func TestNoEndpointsMetric(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, tc := range testCases {
 		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			defer featuregatetesting.SetFeatureGateDuringTest(t, utilfeature.DefaultFeatureGate, features.ServiceInternalTrafficPolicy, true)()
 			ipt := iptablestest.NewFake()
 			fp := NewFakeProxier(ipt)
 			fp.OnServiceSynced()
diff --git a/pkg/proxy/ipvs/proxier.go b/pkg/proxy/ipvs/proxier.go
index 6991bd92a37..6f013cac743 100644
--- a/pkg/proxy/ipvs/proxier.go
+++ b/pkg/proxy/ipvs/proxier.go
@@ -42,10 +42,8 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/sets"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/version"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/wait"
-	utilfeature "k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/util/feature"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/tools/events"
 	utilsysctl "k8s.io/component-helpers/node/util/sysctl"
-	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/features"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/proxy"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/proxy/healthcheck"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/proxy/metaproxier"
@@ -1239,7 +1237,7 @@ func (proxier *Proxier) syncProxyRules() {
 			// ExternalTrafficPolicy only works for NodePort and external LB traffic, does not affect ClusterIP
 			// So we still need clusterIP rules in onlyNodeLocalEndpoints mode.
 			internalNodeLocal := false
-			if utilfeature.DefaultFeatureGate.Enabled(features.ServiceInternalTrafficPolicy) && svcInfo.InternalPolicyLocal() {
+			if svcInfo.InternalPolicyLocal() {
 				internalNodeLocal = true
 			}
 			if err := proxier.syncEndpoint(svcPortName, internalNodeLocal, serv); err != nil {
@@ -2018,7 +2016,7 @@ func (proxier *Proxier) syncEndpoint(svcPortName proxy.ServicePortName, onlyNode
 				// will have the POD address and will be discarded.
 				endpoints = clusterEndpoints
 
-				if hasAnyEndpoints && svcInfo.InternalPolicyLocal() && utilfeature.DefaultFeatureGate.Enabled(features.ServiceInternalTrafficPolicy) {
+				if hasAnyEndpoints && svcInfo.InternalPolicyLocal() {
 					proxier.serviceNoLocalEndpointsInternal.Insert(svcPortName.NamespacedName.String())
 				}
 
diff --git a/pkg/proxy/ipvs/proxier_test.go b/pkg/proxy/ipvs/proxier_test.go
index 6db5ef1a51e..c486415dacf 100644
--- a/pkg/proxy/ipvs/proxier_test.go
+++ b/pkg/proxy/ipvs/proxier_test.go
@@ -4876,8 +4876,6 @@ func TestTestInternalTrafficPolicyE2E(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	}
 	for _, tc := range testCases {
-		defer featuregatetesting.SetFeatureGateDuringTest(t, utilfeature.DefaultFeatureGate, features.ServiceInternalTrafficPolicy, true)()
-
 		ipt := iptablestest.NewFake()
 		ipvs := ipvstest.NewFake()
 		ipset := ipsettest.NewFake(testIPSetVersion)
@@ -6025,8 +6023,6 @@ func TestNoEndpointsMetric(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	}
 	for _, tc := range testCases {
-		defer featuregatetesting.SetFeatureGateDuringTest(t, utilfeature.DefaultFeatureGate, features.ServiceInternalTrafficPolicy, true)()
-
 		ipt := iptablestest.NewFake()
 		ipvs := ipvstest.NewFake()
 		ipset := ipsettest.NewFake(testIPSetVersion)
diff --git a/pkg/proxy/service.go b/pkg/proxy/service.go
index a9a66e02785..a53a299f548 100644
--- a/pkg/proxy/service.go
+++ b/pkg/proxy/service.go
@@ -30,9 +30,7 @@ import (
 	v1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/types"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/sets"
-	utilfeature "k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/util/feature"
 	apiservice "k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/api/v1/service"
-	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/features"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/proxy/metrics"
 	utilproxy "k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/proxy/util"
 )
@@ -158,14 +156,9 @@ func (bsvcPortInfo *BaseServicePortInfo) UsesLocalEndpoints() bool {
 }
 
 func (sct *ServiceChangeTracker) newBaseServiceInfo(port *v1.ServicePort, service *v1.Service) *BaseServicePortInfo {
-	externalPolicyLocal := false
-	if apiservice.ExternalPolicyLocal(service) {
-		externalPolicyLocal = true
-	}
-	internalPolicyLocal := false
-	if utilfeature.DefaultFeatureGate.Enabled(features.ServiceInternalTrafficPolicy) {
-		internalPolicyLocal = apiservice.InternalPolicyLocal(service)
-	}
+	externalPolicyLocal := apiservice.ExternalPolicyLocal(service)
+	internalPolicyLocal := apiservice.InternalPolicyLocal(service)
+
 	var stickyMaxAgeSeconds int
 	if service.Spec.SessionAffinity == v1.ServiceAffinityClientIP {
 		// Kube-apiserver side guarantees SessionAffinityConfig won't be nil when session affinity type is ClientIP
diff --git a/pkg/registry/core/service/strategy.go b/pkg/registry/core/service/strategy.go
index d2ab2d80c51..fbbf7ce7a73 100644
--- a/pkg/registry/core/service/strategy.go
+++ b/pkg/registry/core/service/strategy.go
@@ -24,11 +24,9 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/sets"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/validation/field"
 	"k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/storage/names"
-	utilfeature "k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/util/feature"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/api/legacyscheme"
 	api "k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/apis/core"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/apis/core/validation"
-	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/features"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/structured-merge-diff/v4/fieldpath"
 )
 
@@ -117,19 +115,6 @@ func (svcStrategy) AllowUnconditionalUpdate() bool {
 //	}
 func dropServiceDisabledFields(newSvc *api.Service, oldSvc *api.Service) {
 
-	// Clear InternalTrafficPolicy if not enabled
-	if !utilfeature.DefaultFeatureGate.Enabled(features.ServiceInternalTrafficPolicy) {
-		if !serviceInternalTrafficPolicyInUse(oldSvc) {
-			newSvc.Spec.InternalTrafficPolicy = nil
-		}
-	}
-}
-
-func serviceInternalTrafficPolicyInUse(svc *api.Service) bool {
-	if svc == nil {
-		return false
-	}
-	return svc.Spec.InternalTrafficPolicy != nil
 }
 
 type serviceStatusStrategy struct {
diff --git a/pkg/registry/core/service/strategy_test.go b/pkg/registry/core/service/strategy_test.go
index 55d13d4adf2..20abb014d48 100644
--- a/pkg/registry/core/service/strategy_test.go
+++ b/pkg/registry/core/service/strategy_test.go
@@ -26,11 +26,8 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/intstr"
 	genericapirequest "k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/endpoints/request"
 	"k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/registry/rest"
-	utilfeature "k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/util/feature"
-	featuregatetesting "k8s.io/component-base/featuregate/testing"
 	api "k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/apis/core"
 	_ "k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/apis/core/install"
-	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/features"
 	utilpointer "k8s.io/utils/pointer"
 )
 
@@ -153,23 +150,12 @@ func makeServiceWithPorts(ports []api.PortStatus) *api.Service {
 	}
 }
 
-func makeServiceWithInternalTrafficPolicy(policy *api.ServiceInternalTrafficPolicyType) *api.Service {
-	return &api.Service{
-		Spec: api.ServiceSpec{
-			InternalTrafficPolicy: policy,
-		},
-	}
-}
-
 func TestDropDisabledField(t *testing.T) {
-	localInternalTrafficPolicy := api.ServiceInternalTrafficPolicyLocal
-
 	testCases := []struct {
-		name                        string
-		enableInternalTrafficPolicy bool
-		svc                         *api.Service
-		oldSvc                      *api.Service
-		compareSvc                  *api.Service
+		name       string
+		svc        *api.Service
+		oldSvc     *api.Service
+		compareSvc *api.Service
 	}{
 		/* svc.Status.Conditions */
 		{
@@ -221,33 +207,10 @@ func TestDropDisabledField(t *testing.T) {
 			oldSvc:     makeServiceWithPorts([]api.PortStatus{}),
 			compareSvc: makeServiceWithPorts(nil),
 		},
-		/* svc.spec.internalTrafficPolicy */
-		{
-			name:                        "internal traffic policy not enabled, field used in old, not used in new",
-			enableInternalTrafficPolicy: false,
-			svc:                         makeServiceWithInternalTrafficPolicy(nil),
-			oldSvc:                      makeServiceWithInternalTrafficPolicy(&localInternalTrafficPolicy),
-			compareSvc:                  makeServiceWithInternalTrafficPolicy(nil),
-		},
-		{
-			name:                        "internal traffic policy not enabled, field not used in old, used in new",
-			enableInternalTrafficPolicy: false,
-			svc:                         makeServiceWithInternalTrafficPolicy(&localInternalTrafficPolicy),
-			oldSvc:                      makeServiceWithInternalTrafficPolicy(nil),
-			compareSvc:                  makeServiceWithInternalTrafficPolicy(nil),
-		},
-		{
-			name:                        "internal traffic policy enabled, field not used in old, used in new",
-			enableInternalTrafficPolicy: true,
-			svc:                         makeServiceWithInternalTrafficPolicy(&localInternalTrafficPolicy),
-			oldSvc:                      makeServiceWithInternalTrafficPolicy(nil),
-			compareSvc:                  makeServiceWithInternalTrafficPolicy(&localInternalTrafficPolicy),
-		},
 		/* add more tests for other dropped fields as needed */
 	}
 	for _, tc := range testCases {
 		func() {
-			defer featuregatetesting.SetFeatureGateDuringTest(t, utilfeature.DefaultFeatureGate, features.ServiceInternalTrafficPolicy, tc.enableInternalTrafficPolicy)()
 			old := tc.oldSvc.DeepCopy()
 
 			// to test against user using IPFamily not set on cluster
diff --git a/staging/src/k8s.io/api/core/v1/generated.proto b/staging/src/k8s.io/api/core/v1/generated.proto
index c43dbc3bace..c073776195b 100644
--- a/staging/src/k8s.io/api/core/v1/generated.proto
+++ b/staging/src/k8s.io/api/core/v1/generated.proto
@@ -5212,7 +5212,6 @@ message ServiceSpec {
   // dropping the traffic if there are no local endpoints. The default value,
   // "Cluster", uses the standard behavior of routing to all endpoints evenly
   // (possibly modified by topology and other features).
-  // +featureGate=ServiceInternalTrafficPolicy
   // +optional
   optional string internalTrafficPolicy = 22;
 }
diff --git a/staging/src/k8s.io/api/core/v1/types.go b/staging/src/k8s.io/api/core/v1/types.go
index adfad114e4a..22156917971 100644
--- a/staging/src/k8s.io/api/core/v1/types.go
+++ b/staging/src/k8s.io/api/core/v1/types.go
@@ -4591,7 +4591,6 @@ type ServiceSpec struct {
 	// dropping the traffic if there are no local endpoints. The default value,
 	// "Cluster", uses the standard behavior of routing to all endpoints evenly
 	// (possibly modified by topology and other features).
-	// +featureGate=ServiceInternalTrafficPolicy
 	// +optional
 	InternalTrafficPolicy *ServiceInternalTrafficPolicyType `json:"internalTrafficPolicy,omitempty" protobuf:"bytes,22,opt,name=internalTrafficPolicy"`
 }