diff --git a/pkg/apis/policy/types.go b/pkg/apis/policy/types.go
index f7da6c25197..b83ebd390df 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/policy/types.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/policy/types.go
@@ -42,8 +42,56 @@ type PodDisruptionBudgetSpec struct {
 	// by specifying 0. This is a mutually exclusive setting with "minAvailable".
 	// +optional
 	MaxUnavailable *intstr.IntOrString
+
+	// UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy defines the criteria for when unhealthy pods
+	// should be considered for eviction. Current implementation considers healthy pods,
+	// as pods that have status.conditions item with type="Ready",status="True".
+	//
+	// Valid policies are IfHealthyBudget and AlwaysAllow.
+	// If no policy is specified, the default behavior will be used,
+	// which corresponds to the IfHealthyBudget policy.
+	//
+	// IfHealthyBudget policy means that running pods (status.phase="Running"),
+	// but not yet healthy can be evicted only if the guarded application is not
+	// disrupted (status.currentHealthy is at least equal to status.desiredHealthy).
+	// Healthy pods will be subject to the PDB for eviction.
+	//
+	// AlwaysAllow policy means that all running pods (status.phase="Running"),
+	// but not yet healthy are considered disrupted and can be evicted regardless
+	// of whether the criteria in a PDB is met. This means perspective running
+	// pods of a disrupted application might not get a chance to become healthy.
+	// Healthy pods will be subject to the PDB for eviction.
+	//
+	// Additional policies may be added in the future.
+	// Clients making eviction decisions should disallow eviction of unhealthy pods
+	// if they encounter an unrecognized policy in this field.
+	//
+	// This field is alpha-level. The eviction API uses this field when
+	// the feature gate PDBUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy is enabled (disabled by default).
+	// +optional
+	UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy *UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyType
 }
 
+// UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyType defines the criteria for when unhealthy pods
+// should be considered for eviction.
+// +enum
+type UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyType string
+
+const (
+	// IfHealthyBudget policy means that running pods (status.phase="Running"),
+	// but not yet healthy can be evicted only if the guarded application is not
+	// disrupted (status.currentHealthy is at least equal to status.desiredHealthy).
+	// Healthy pods will be subject to the PDB for eviction.
+	IfHealthyBudget UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyType = "IfHealthyBudget"
+
+	// AlwaysAllow policy means that all running pods (status.phase="Running"),
+	// but not yet healthy are considered disrupted and can be evicted regardless
+	// of whether the criteria in a PDB is met. This means perspective running
+	// pods of a disrupted application might not get a chance to become healthy.
+	// Healthy pods will be subject to the PDB for eviction.
+	AlwaysAllow UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyType = "AlwaysAllow"
+)
+
 // PodDisruptionBudgetStatus represents information about the status of a
 // PodDisruptionBudget. Status may trail the actual state of a system.
 type PodDisruptionBudgetStatus struct {
diff --git a/pkg/apis/policy/validation/validation.go b/pkg/apis/policy/validation/validation.go
index fb529b3d6bc..8f2ad4ff4d3 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/policy/validation/validation.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/policy/validation/validation.go
@@ -44,6 +44,11 @@ const (
 	seccompAllowedProfilesAnnotationKey = "seccomp.security.alpha.kubernetes.io/allowedProfileNames"
 )
 
+var supportedUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicies = sets.NewString(
+	string(policy.IfHealthyBudget),
+	string(policy.AlwaysAllow),
+)
+
 type PodDisruptionBudgetValidationOptions struct {
 	AllowInvalidLabelValueInSelector bool
 }
@@ -78,6 +83,10 @@ func ValidatePodDisruptionBudgetSpec(spec policy.PodDisruptionBudgetSpec, opts P
 
 	allErrs = append(allErrs, unversionedvalidation.ValidateLabelSelector(spec.Selector, labelSelectorValidationOptions, fldPath.Child("selector"))...)
 
+	if spec.UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy != nil && !supportedUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicies.Has(string(*spec.UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy)) {
+		allErrs = append(allErrs, field.NotSupported(fldPath.Child("unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy"), *spec.UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy, supportedUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicies.List()))
+	}
+
 	return allErrs
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/apis/policy/validation/validation_test.go b/pkg/apis/policy/validation/validation_test.go
index 0902328d4f3..0f247001775 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/policy/validation/validation_test.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/policy/validation/validation_test.go
@@ -98,6 +98,63 @@ func TestValidateMinAvailablePodAndMaxUnavailableDisruptionBudgetSpec(t *testing
 	}
 }
 
+func TestValidateUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyDisruptionBudgetSpec(t *testing.T) {
+	c1 := intstr.FromString("10%")
+	alwaysAllowPolicy := policy.AlwaysAllow
+	invalidPolicy := policy.UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyType("Invalid")
+
+	testCases := []struct {
+		name      string
+		pdbSpec   policy.PodDisruptionBudgetSpec
+		expectErr bool
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "valid nil UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy",
+			pdbSpec: policy.PodDisruptionBudgetSpec{
+				MinAvailable:               &c1,
+				UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy: nil,
+			},
+			expectErr: false,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "valid UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy",
+			pdbSpec: policy.PodDisruptionBudgetSpec{
+				MinAvailable:               &c1,
+				UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy: &alwaysAllowPolicy,
+			},
+			expectErr: false,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "empty UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy",
+			pdbSpec: policy.PodDisruptionBudgetSpec{
+				MinAvailable:               &c1,
+				UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy: new(policy.UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyType),
+			},
+			expectErr: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "invalid UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy",
+			pdbSpec: policy.PodDisruptionBudgetSpec{
+				MinAvailable:               &c1,
+				UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy: &invalidPolicy,
+			},
+			expectErr: true,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range testCases {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			errs := ValidatePodDisruptionBudgetSpec(tc.pdbSpec, PodDisruptionBudgetValidationOptions{true}, field.NewPath("foo"))
+			if len(errs) == 0 && tc.expectErr {
+				t.Errorf("unexpected success for %v", tc.pdbSpec)
+			}
+			if len(errs) != 0 && !tc.expectErr {
+				t.Errorf("unexpected failure for %v", tc.pdbSpec)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 func TestValidatePodDisruptionBudgetStatus(t *testing.T) {
 	const expectNoErrors = false
 	const expectErrors = true
diff --git a/pkg/features/kube_features.go b/pkg/features/kube_features.go
index dd307cacd54..9139f4358ee 100644
--- a/pkg/features/kube_features.go
+++ b/pkg/features/kube_features.go
@@ -625,6 +625,13 @@ const (
 	// Permits kubelet to run with swap enabled
 	NodeSwap featuregate.Feature = "NodeSwap"
 
+	// owner: @mortent, @atiratree, @ravig
+	// kep: http://kep.k8s.io/3018
+	// alpha: v1.26
+	//
+	// Enables PDBUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy for PodDisruptionBudgets
+	PDBUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy featuregate.Feature = "PDBUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy"
+
 	// owner: @haircommander
 	// kep: https://kep.k8s.io/2364
 	// alpha: v1.23
@@ -1045,6 +1052,8 @@ var defaultKubernetesFeatureGates = map[featuregate.Feature]featuregate.FeatureS
 
 	NodeSwap: {Default: false, PreRelease: featuregate.Alpha},
 
+	PDBUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy: {Default: false, PreRelease: featuregate.Alpha},
+
 	PodAndContainerStatsFromCRI: {Default: false, PreRelease: featuregate.Alpha},
 
 	PodDeletionCost: {Default: true, PreRelease: featuregate.Beta},
diff --git a/pkg/registry/core/pod/storage/eviction.go b/pkg/registry/core/pod/storage/eviction.go
index 844c27e475c..d87c2e35c32 100644
--- a/pkg/registry/core/pod/storage/eviction.go
+++ b/pkg/registry/core/pod/storage/eviction.go
@@ -226,10 +226,24 @@ func (r *EvictionREST) Create(ctx context.Context, name string, obj runtime.Obje
 		pdb := &pdbs[0]
 		pdbName = pdb.Name
 
-		// If the pod is not ready, it doesn't count towards healthy and we should not decrement
-		if !podutil.IsPodReady(pod) && pdb.Status.CurrentHealthy >= pdb.Status.DesiredHealthy && pdb.Status.DesiredHealthy > 0 {
-			updateDeletionOptions = true
-			return nil
+		// IsPodReady is the current implementation of IsHealthy
+		// If the pod is healthy, it should be guarded by the PDB.
+		if !podutil.IsPodReady(pod) {
+			if feature.DefaultFeatureGate.Enabled(features.PDBUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy) {
+				if pdb.Spec.UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy != nil && *pdb.Spec.UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy == policyv1.AlwaysAllow {
+					// Delete the unhealthy pod, it doesn't count towards currentHealthy and desiredHealthy and we should not decrement disruptionsAllowed.
+					updateDeletionOptions = true
+					return nil
+				}
+			}
+			// default nil and IfHealthyBudget policy
+			if pdb.Status.CurrentHealthy >= pdb.Status.DesiredHealthy && pdb.Status.DesiredHealthy > 0 {
+				// Delete the unhealthy pod, it doesn't count towards currentHealthy and desiredHealthy and we should not decrement disruptionsAllowed.
+				// Application guarded by the PDB is not disrupted at the moment and deleting unhealthy (unready) pod will not disrupt it.
+				updateDeletionOptions = true
+				return nil
+			}
+			// confirm no disruptions allowed in checkAndDecrement
 		}
 
 		refresh := false
@@ -264,12 +278,12 @@ func (r *EvictionREST) Create(ctx context.Context, name string, obj runtime.Obje
 	}
 
 	// At this point there was either no PDB or we succeeded in decrementing or
-	// the pod was unready and we have enough healthy replicas
+	// the pod was unhealthy (unready) and we have enough healthy replicas
 
 	deleteOptions := originalDeleteOptions
 
 	// Set deleteOptions.Preconditions.ResourceVersion to ensure
-	// the pod hasn't been considered ready since we calculated
+	// the pod hasn't been considered healthy (ready) since we calculated
 	if updateDeletionOptions {
 		// Take a copy so we can compare to client-provied Options later.
 		deleteOptions = deleteOptions.DeepCopy()
@@ -351,7 +365,7 @@ func shouldEnforceResourceVersion(pod *api.Pod) bool {
 		return false
 	}
 	// Return true for all other pods to ensure we don't race against a pod becoming
-	// ready and violating PDBs.
+	// healthy (ready) and violating PDBs.
 	return true
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/registry/core/pod/storage/eviction_test.go b/pkg/registry/core/pod/storage/eviction_test.go
index 92cc0a3c082..260b44d9983 100644
--- a/pkg/registry/core/pod/storage/eviction_test.go
+++ b/pkg/registry/core/pod/storage/eviction_test.go
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@ package storage
 import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"reflect"
+	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
 	policyv1 "k8s.io/api/policy/v1"
@@ -31,21 +34,25 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/watch"
 	genericapirequest "k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/endpoints/request"
 	"k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/registry/rest"
+	utilfeature "k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/util/feature"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/kubernetes/fake"
+	featuregatetesting "k8s.io/component-base/featuregate/testing"
 	podapi "k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/api/pod"
 	api "k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/apis/core"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/apis/policy"
+	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/features"
 )
 
 func TestEviction(t *testing.T) {
 	testcases := []struct {
 		name     string
 		pdbs     []runtime.Object
+		policies []*policyv1.UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyType
 		eviction *policy.Eviction
 
 		badNameInURL bool
 
-		expectError   bool
+		expectError   string
 		expectDeleted bool
 		podPhase      api.PodPhase
 		podName       string
@@ -58,9 +65,10 @@ func TestEviction(t *testing.T) {
 				Status:     policyv1.PodDisruptionBudgetStatus{DisruptionsAllowed: 0},
 			}},
 			eviction:    &policy.Eviction{ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "t1", Namespace: "default"}, DeleteOptions: metav1.NewDeleteOptions(0)},
-			expectError: true,
+			expectError: "Cannot evict pod as it would violate the pod's disruption budget.: TooManyRequests: The disruption budget foo needs 0 healthy pods and has 0 currently",
 			podPhase:    api.PodRunning,
 			podName:     "t1",
+			policies:    []*policyv1.UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyType{nil, unhealthyPolicyPtr(policyv1.IfHealthyBudget)}, // AlwaysAllow would terminate the pod since Running pods are not guarded by this policy
 		},
 		{
 			name: "matching pdbs with no disruptions allowed, pod pending",
@@ -70,7 +78,7 @@ func TestEviction(t *testing.T) {
 				Status:     policyv1.PodDisruptionBudgetStatus{DisruptionsAllowed: 0},
 			}},
 			eviction:      &policy.Eviction{ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "t2", Namespace: "default"}, DeleteOptions: metav1.NewDeleteOptions(0)},
-			expectError:   false,
+			expectError:   "",
 			podPhase:      api.PodPending,
 			expectDeleted: true,
 			podName:       "t2",
@@ -83,7 +91,7 @@ func TestEviction(t *testing.T) {
 				Status:     policyv1.PodDisruptionBudgetStatus{DisruptionsAllowed: 0},
 			}},
 			eviction:      &policy.Eviction{ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "t3", Namespace: "default"}, DeleteOptions: metav1.NewDeleteOptions(0)},
-			expectError:   false,
+			expectError:   "",
 			podPhase:      api.PodSucceeded,
 			expectDeleted: true,
 			podName:       "t3",
@@ -96,7 +104,7 @@ func TestEviction(t *testing.T) {
 				Status:     policyv1.PodDisruptionBudgetStatus{DisruptionsAllowed: 0},
 			}},
 			eviction:      &policy.Eviction{ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "t4", Namespace: "default"}, DeleteOptions: metav1.NewDeleteOptions(0)},
-			expectError:   false,
+			expectError:   "",
 			podPhase:      api.PodFailed,
 			expectDeleted: true,
 			podName:       "t4",
@@ -132,91 +140,109 @@ func TestEviction(t *testing.T) {
 			}},
 			badNameInURL: true,
 			eviction:     &policy.Eviction{ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "t7", Namespace: "default"}, DeleteOptions: metav1.NewDeleteOptions(0)},
-			expectError:  true,
+			expectError:  "name in URL does not match name in Eviction object: BadRequest",
 			podName:      "t7",
 		},
 	}
 
-	for _, tc := range testcases {
-		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			testContext := genericapirequest.WithNamespace(genericapirequest.NewContext(), metav1.NamespaceDefault)
-			storage, _, statusStorage, server := newStorage(t)
-			defer server.Terminate(t)
-			defer storage.Store.DestroyFunc()
-
-			pod := validNewPod()
-			pod.Name = tc.podName
-			pod.Labels = map[string]string{"a": "true"}
-			pod.Spec.NodeName = "foo"
-			if _, err := storage.Create(testContext, pod, nil, &metav1.CreateOptions{}); err != nil {
-				t.Error(err)
+	for _, unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy := range []*policyv1.UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyType{nil, unhealthyPolicyPtr(policyv1.IfHealthyBudget), unhealthyPolicyPtr(policyv1.AlwaysAllow)} {
+		for _, tc := range testcases {
+			if len(tc.policies) > 0 && !hasUnhealthyPolicy(tc.policies, unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy) {
+				// unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy is not covered by this test
+				continue
 			}
+			t.Run(fmt.Sprintf("%v with %v policy", tc.name, unhealthyPolicyStr(unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy)), func(t *testing.T) {
+				defer featuregatetesting.SetFeatureGateDuringTest(t, utilfeature.DefaultFeatureGate, features.PDBUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy, true)()
 
-			if tc.podPhase != "" {
-				pod.Status.Phase = tc.podPhase
-				_, _, err := statusStorage.Update(testContext, pod.Name, rest.DefaultUpdatedObjectInfo(pod), rest.ValidateAllObjectFunc, rest.ValidateAllObjectUpdateFunc, false, &metav1.UpdateOptions{})
-				if err != nil {
-					t.Errorf("Unexpected error: %v", err)
+				// same test runs multiple times, make copy of objects to have unique ones
+				evictionCopy := tc.eviction.DeepCopy()
+				var pdbsCopy []runtime.Object
+				for _, pdb := range tc.pdbs {
+					pdbCopy := pdb.DeepCopyObject()
+					pdbCopy.(*policyv1.PodDisruptionBudget).Spec.UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy = unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy
+					pdbsCopy = append(pdbsCopy, pdbCopy)
 				}
-			}
 
-			client := fake.NewSimpleClientset(tc.pdbs...)
-			evictionRest := newEvictionStorage(storage.Store, client.PolicyV1())
+				testContext := genericapirequest.WithNamespace(genericapirequest.NewContext(), metav1.NamespaceDefault)
+				storage, _, statusStorage, server := newStorage(t)
+				defer server.Terminate(t)
+				defer storage.Store.DestroyFunc()
 
-			name := pod.Name
-			if tc.badNameInURL {
-				name += "bad-name"
-			}
+				pod := validNewPod()
+				pod.Name = tc.podName
+				pod.Labels = map[string]string{"a": "true"}
+				pod.Spec.NodeName = "foo"
+				if _, err := storage.Create(testContext, pod, nil, &metav1.CreateOptions{}); err != nil {
+					t.Error(err)
+				}
 
-			_, err := evictionRest.Create(testContext, name, tc.eviction, nil, &metav1.CreateOptions{})
-			//_, err = evictionRest.Create(testContext, name, tc.eviction, nil, &metav1.CreateOptions{})
-			if (err != nil) != tc.expectError {
-				t.Errorf("expected error=%v, got %v; name %v", tc.expectError, err, pod.Name)
-				return
-			}
-			if tc.badNameInURL {
-				if err == nil {
-					t.Error("expected error here, but got nil")
+				if tc.podPhase != "" {
+					pod.Status.Phase = tc.podPhase
+					_, _, err := statusStorage.Update(testContext, pod.Name, rest.DefaultUpdatedObjectInfo(pod), rest.ValidateAllObjectFunc, rest.ValidateAllObjectUpdateFunc, false, &metav1.UpdateOptions{})
+					if err != nil {
+						t.Errorf("Unexpected error: %v", err)
+					}
+				}
+
+				client := fake.NewSimpleClientset(pdbsCopy...)
+				evictionRest := newEvictionStorage(storage.Store, client.PolicyV1())
+
+				name := pod.Name
+				if tc.badNameInURL {
+					name += "bad-name"
+				}
+
+				_, err := evictionRest.Create(testContext, name, evictionCopy, nil, &metav1.CreateOptions{})
+				gotErr := errToString(err)
+				if gotErr != tc.expectError {
+					t.Errorf("error mismatch: expected %v, got %v; name %v", tc.expectError, gotErr, pod.Name)
 					return
 				}
-				if err.Error() != "name in URL does not match name in Eviction object" {
-					t.Errorf("got unexpected error: %v", err)
+				if tc.badNameInURL {
+					if err == nil {
+						t.Error("expected error here, but got nil")
+						return
+					}
+					if err.Error() != "name in URL does not match name in Eviction object" {
+						t.Errorf("got unexpected error: %v", err)
+					}
 				}
-			}
-			if tc.expectError {
-				return
-			}
-
-			existingPod, err := storage.Get(testContext, pod.Name, &metav1.GetOptions{})
-			if tc.expectDeleted {
-				if !apierrors.IsNotFound(err) {
-					t.Errorf("expected to be deleted, lookup returned %#v", existingPod)
+				if tc.expectError != "" {
+					return
 				}
-				return
-			} else if apierrors.IsNotFound(err) {
-				t.Errorf("expected graceful deletion, got %v", err)
-				return
-			}
 
-			if err != nil {
-				t.Errorf("%#v", err)
-				return
-			}
+				existingPod, err := storage.Get(testContext, pod.Name, &metav1.GetOptions{})
+				if tc.expectDeleted {
+					if !apierrors.IsNotFound(err) {
+						t.Errorf("expected to be deleted, lookup returned %#v", existingPod)
+					}
+					return
+				} else if apierrors.IsNotFound(err) {
+					t.Errorf("expected graceful deletion, got %v", err)
+					return
+				}
 
-			if existingPod.(*api.Pod).DeletionTimestamp == nil {
-				t.Errorf("expected gracefully deleted pod with deletionTimestamp set, got %#v", existingPod)
-			}
-		})
+				if err != nil {
+					t.Errorf("%#v", err)
+					return
+				}
+
+				if existingPod.(*api.Pod).DeletionTimestamp == nil {
+					t.Errorf("expected gracefully deleted pod with deletionTimestamp set, got %#v", existingPod)
+				}
+			})
+		}
 	}
 }
 
-func TestEvictionIngorePDB(t *testing.T) {
+func TestEvictionIgnorePDB(t *testing.T) {
 	testcases := []struct {
 		name     string
 		pdbs     []runtime.Object
+		policies []*policyv1.UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyType
 		eviction *policy.Eviction
 
-		expectError         bool
+		expectError         string
 		podPhase            api.PodPhase
 		podName             string
 		expectedDeleteCount int
@@ -231,12 +257,12 @@ func TestEvictionIngorePDB(t *testing.T) {
 				Status:     policyv1.PodDisruptionBudgetStatus{DisruptionsAllowed: 0},
 			}},
 			eviction:            &policy.Eviction{ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "t1", Namespace: "default"}, DeleteOptions: metav1.NewDeleteOptions(0)},
-			expectError:         false,
+			expectError:         "",
 			podPhase:            api.PodPending,
 			podName:             "t1",
 			expectedDeleteCount: 3,
 		},
-		// This test case is critical.  If it is removed or broken we may
+		// This test case is critical. If it is removed or broken we may
 		// regress and allow a pod to be deleted without checking PDBs when the
 		// pod should not be deleted.
 		{
@@ -247,10 +273,30 @@ func TestEvictionIngorePDB(t *testing.T) {
 				Status:     policyv1.PodDisruptionBudgetStatus{DisruptionsAllowed: 0},
 			}},
 			eviction:            &policy.Eviction{ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "t2", Namespace: "default"}, DeleteOptions: metav1.NewDeleteOptions(0)},
-			expectError:         true,
+			expectError:         "Cannot evict pod as it would violate the pod's disruption budget.: TooManyRequests: The disruption budget foo needs 0 healthy pods and has 0 currently",
 			podPhase:            api.PodPending,
 			podName:             "t2",
 			expectedDeleteCount: 1,
+			policies:            []*policyv1.UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyType{nil, unhealthyPolicyPtr(policyv1.IfHealthyBudget)}, // AlwaysAllow does not continueToPDBs, but straight to deletion
+		},
+		{
+			name: "pdbs No disruptions allowed, pod pending, first delete conflict, pod becomes running, skip PDB check, conflict",
+			pdbs: []runtime.Object{&policyv1.PodDisruptionBudget{
+				ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "foo", Namespace: "default"},
+				Spec:       policyv1.PodDisruptionBudgetSpec{Selector: &metav1.LabelSelector{MatchLabels: map[string]string{"a": "true"}}},
+				Status:     policyv1.PodDisruptionBudgetStatus{DisruptionsAllowed: 0},
+			}},
+			eviction:            &policy.Eviction{ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "t2", Namespace: "default"}, DeleteOptions: metav1.NewDeleteOptions(0)},
+			expectError:         "Cannot evict pod as it would violate the pod's disruption budget.: TooManyRequests: The disruption budget foo is still being processed by the server.",
+			podPhase:            api.PodPending,
+			podName:             "t2",
+			podTerminating:      false,
+			expectedDeleteCount: 2,
+			prc: &api.PodCondition{
+				Type:   api.PodReady,
+				Status: api.ConditionFalse,
+			},
+			policies: []*policyv1.UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyType{unhealthyPolicyPtr(policyv1.AlwaysAllow)}, // nil, IfHealthyBudget continueToPDBs
 		},
 		{
 			name: "pdbs disruptions allowed, pod pending, first delete conflict, pod becomes running, continueToPDBs",
@@ -260,10 +306,11 @@ func TestEvictionIngorePDB(t *testing.T) {
 				Status:     policyv1.PodDisruptionBudgetStatus{DisruptionsAllowed: 1},
 			}},
 			eviction:            &policy.Eviction{ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "t3", Namespace: "default"}, DeleteOptions: metav1.NewDeleteOptions(0)},
-			expectError:         false,
+			expectError:         "",
 			podPhase:            api.PodPending,
 			podName:             "t3",
 			expectedDeleteCount: 2,
+			policies:            []*policyv1.UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyType{nil, unhealthyPolicyPtr(policyv1.IfHealthyBudget)}, // AlwaysAllow does not continueToPDBs, but straight to deletion if pod not healthy (ready)
 		},
 		{
 			name: "pod pending, always conflict on delete",
@@ -273,7 +320,7 @@ func TestEvictionIngorePDB(t *testing.T) {
 				Status:     policyv1.PodDisruptionBudgetStatus{DisruptionsAllowed: 0},
 			}},
 			eviction:            &policy.Eviction{ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "t4", Namespace: "default"}, DeleteOptions: metav1.NewDeleteOptions(0)},
-			expectError:         true,
+			expectError:         `Operation cannot be fulfilled on tests "2": message: Conflict`,
 			podPhase:            api.PodPending,
 			podName:             "t4",
 			expectedDeleteCount: EvictionsRetry.Steps,
@@ -286,7 +333,7 @@ func TestEvictionIngorePDB(t *testing.T) {
 				Status:     policyv1.PodDisruptionBudgetStatus{DisruptionsAllowed: 0},
 			}},
 			eviction:            &policy.Eviction{ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "t5", Namespace: "default"}, DeleteOptions: metav1.NewRVDeletionPrecondition("userProvided")},
-			expectError:         true,
+			expectError:         `Operation cannot be fulfilled on tests "2": message: Conflict`,
 			podPhase:            api.PodPending,
 			podName:             "t5",
 			expectedDeleteCount: 1,
@@ -299,7 +346,7 @@ func TestEvictionIngorePDB(t *testing.T) {
 				Status:     policyv1.PodDisruptionBudgetStatus{DisruptionsAllowed: 0},
 			}},
 			eviction:            &policy.Eviction{ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "t6", Namespace: "default"}, DeleteOptions: metav1.NewDeleteOptions(300)},
-			expectError:         false,
+			expectError:         "",
 			podName:             "t6",
 			expectedDeleteCount: 1,
 			podTerminating:      true,
@@ -310,14 +357,14 @@ func TestEvictionIngorePDB(t *testing.T) {
 				ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "foo", Namespace: "default"},
 				Spec:       policyv1.PodDisruptionBudgetSpec{Selector: &metav1.LabelSelector{MatchLabels: map[string]string{"a": "true"}}},
 				Status: policyv1.PodDisruptionBudgetStatus{
-					// This simulates 3 pods desired, our pod healthy, unhealthy pod is not ours.
+					// This simulates 3 pods expected, our pod healthy, unhealthy pod is not ours.
 					DisruptionsAllowed: 0,
 					CurrentHealthy:     2,
 					DesiredHealthy:     2,
 				},
 			}},
 			eviction:            &policy.Eviction{ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "t7", Namespace: "default"}, DeleteOptions: metav1.NewDeleteOptions(0)},
-			expectError:         true,
+			expectError:         "Cannot evict pod as it would violate the pod's disruption budget.: TooManyRequests: The disruption budget foo needs 2 healthy pods and has 2 currently",
 			podName:             "t7",
 			expectedDeleteCount: 0,
 			podTerminating:      false,
@@ -327,20 +374,42 @@ func TestEvictionIngorePDB(t *testing.T) {
 				Status: api.ConditionTrue,
 			},
 		},
+		{
+			name: "matching pdbs with disruptions allowed, pod running, pod healthy, healthy pod ours, deletes pod by honoring the PDB",
+			pdbs: []runtime.Object{&policyv1.PodDisruptionBudget{
+				ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "foo", Namespace: "default"},
+				Spec:       policyv1.PodDisruptionBudgetSpec{Selector: &metav1.LabelSelector{MatchLabels: map[string]string{"a": "true"}}},
+				Status: policyv1.PodDisruptionBudgetStatus{
+					DisruptionsAllowed: 1,
+					CurrentHealthy:     3,
+					DesiredHealthy:     3,
+				},
+			}},
+			eviction:            &policy.Eviction{ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "t8", Namespace: "default"}, DeleteOptions: metav1.NewDeleteOptions(0)},
+			expectError:         "",
+			podName:             "t8",
+			expectedDeleteCount: 1,
+			podTerminating:      false,
+			podPhase:            api.PodRunning,
+			prc: &api.PodCondition{
+				Type:   api.PodReady,
+				Status: api.ConditionTrue,
+			},
+		},
 		{
 			name: "matching pdbs with no disruptions allowed, pod running, pod unhealthy, unhealthy pod ours",
 			pdbs: []runtime.Object{&policyv1.PodDisruptionBudget{
 				ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "foo", Namespace: "default"},
 				Spec:       policyv1.PodDisruptionBudgetSpec{Selector: &metav1.LabelSelector{MatchLabels: map[string]string{"a": "true"}}},
 				Status: policyv1.PodDisruptionBudgetStatus{
-					// This simulates 3 pods desired, our pod unhealthy
+					// This simulates 3 pods expected, our pod unhealthy
 					DisruptionsAllowed: 0,
 					CurrentHealthy:     2,
 					DesiredHealthy:     2,
 				},
 			}},
 			eviction:            &policy.Eviction{ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "t8", Namespace: "default"}, DeleteOptions: metav1.NewDeleteOptions(0)},
-			expectError:         false,
+			expectError:         "",
 			podName:             "t8",
 			expectedDeleteCount: 1,
 			podTerminating:      false,
@@ -350,6 +419,25 @@ func TestEvictionIngorePDB(t *testing.T) {
 				Status: api.ConditionFalse,
 			},
 		},
+		{
+			name: "matching pdbs with no disruptions allowed, pod running, pod unhealthy, unhealthy pod ours, skips the PDB check and deletes",
+			pdbs: []runtime.Object{&policyv1.PodDisruptionBudget{
+				ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "foo", Namespace: "default"},
+				Spec:       policyv1.PodDisruptionBudgetSpec{Selector: &metav1.LabelSelector{MatchLabels: map[string]string{"a": "true"}}},
+				Status:     policyv1.PodDisruptionBudgetStatus{DisruptionsAllowed: 0},
+			}},
+			eviction:            &policy.Eviction{ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "t8", Namespace: "default"}, DeleteOptions: metav1.NewDeleteOptions(0)},
+			expectError:         "",
+			podName:             "t8",
+			expectedDeleteCount: 1,
+			podTerminating:      false,
+			podPhase:            api.PodRunning,
+			prc: &api.PodCondition{
+				Type:   api.PodReady,
+				Status: api.ConditionFalse,
+			},
+			policies: []*policyv1.UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyType{unhealthyPolicyPtr(policyv1.AlwaysAllow)}, // nil, IfHealthyBudget would not skip the PDB check
+		},
 		{
 			// This case should return the 529 retry error.
 			name: "matching pdbs with no disruptions allowed, pod running, pod unhealthy, unhealthy pod ours, resource version conflict",
@@ -357,14 +445,14 @@ func TestEvictionIngorePDB(t *testing.T) {
 				ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "foo", Namespace: "default"},
 				Spec:       policyv1.PodDisruptionBudgetSpec{Selector: &metav1.LabelSelector{MatchLabels: map[string]string{"a": "true"}}},
 				Status: policyv1.PodDisruptionBudgetStatus{
-					// This simulates 3 pods desired, our pod unhealthy
+					// This simulates 3 pods expected, our pod unhealthy
 					DisruptionsAllowed: 0,
 					CurrentHealthy:     2,
 					DesiredHealthy:     2,
 				},
 			}},
 			eviction:            &policy.Eviction{ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "t9", Namespace: "default"}, DeleteOptions: metav1.NewDeleteOptions(0)},
-			expectError:         true,
+			expectError:         "Cannot evict pod as it would violate the pod's disruption budget.: TooManyRequests: The disruption budget foo is still being processed by the server.",
 			podName:             "t9",
 			expectedDeleteCount: 1,
 			podTerminating:      false,
@@ -381,14 +469,14 @@ func TestEvictionIngorePDB(t *testing.T) {
 				ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "foo", Namespace: "default"},
 				Spec:       policyv1.PodDisruptionBudgetSpec{Selector: &metav1.LabelSelector{MatchLabels: map[string]string{"a": "true"}}},
 				Status: policyv1.PodDisruptionBudgetStatus{
-					// This simulates 3 pods desired, our pod unhealthy
+					// This simulates 3 pods expected, our pod unhealthy
 					DisruptionsAllowed: 0,
 					CurrentHealthy:     2,
 					DesiredHealthy:     2,
 				},
 			}},
 			eviction:            &policy.Eviction{ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "t10", Namespace: "default"}, DeleteOptions: metav1.NewDeleteOptions(0)},
-			expectError:         true,
+			expectError:         "test designed to error: BadRequest",
 			podName:             "t10",
 			expectedDeleteCount: 1,
 			podTerminating:      false,
@@ -400,50 +488,68 @@ func TestEvictionIngorePDB(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	}
 
-	for _, tc := range testcases {
-		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			testContext := genericapirequest.WithNamespace(genericapirequest.NewContext(), metav1.NamespaceDefault)
-			ms := &mockStore{
-				deleteCount: 0,
+	for _, unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy := range []*policyv1.UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyType{unhealthyPolicyPtr(policyv1.AlwaysAllow), nil, unhealthyPolicyPtr(policyv1.IfHealthyBudget)} {
+		for _, tc := range testcases {
+			if len(tc.policies) > 0 && !hasUnhealthyPolicy(tc.policies, unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy) {
+				// unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy is not covered by this test
+				continue
 			}
+			t.Run(fmt.Sprintf("%v with %v policy", tc.name, unhealthyPolicyStr(unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy)), func(t *testing.T) {
+				defer featuregatetesting.SetFeatureGateDuringTest(t, utilfeature.DefaultFeatureGate, features.PDBUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy, true)()
 
-			pod := validNewPod()
-			pod.Name = tc.podName
-			pod.Labels = map[string]string{"a": "true"}
-			pod.Spec.NodeName = "foo"
-			if tc.podPhase != "" {
-				pod.Status.Phase = tc.podPhase
-			}
-
-			if tc.podTerminating {
-				currentTime := metav1.Now()
-				pod.ObjectMeta.DeletionTimestamp = &currentTime
-			}
-
-			// Setup pod condition
-			if tc.prc != nil {
-				if !podapi.UpdatePodCondition(&pod.Status, tc.prc) {
-					t.Fatalf("Unable to update pod ready condition")
+				// same test runs 3 times, make copy of objects to have unique ones
+				evictionCopy := tc.eviction.DeepCopy()
+				prcCopy := tc.prc.DeepCopy()
+				var pdbsCopy []runtime.Object
+				for _, pdb := range tc.pdbs {
+					pdbCopy := pdb.DeepCopyObject()
+					pdbCopy.(*policyv1.PodDisruptionBudget).Spec.UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy = unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy
+					pdbsCopy = append(pdbsCopy, pdbCopy)
 				}
-			}
 
-			client := fake.NewSimpleClientset(tc.pdbs...)
-			evictionRest := newEvictionStorage(ms, client.PolicyV1())
+				testContext := genericapirequest.WithNamespace(genericapirequest.NewContext(), metav1.NamespaceDefault)
+				ms := &mockStore{
+					deleteCount: 0,
+				}
 
-			name := pod.Name
-			ms.pod = pod
+				pod := validNewPod()
+				pod.Name = tc.podName
+				pod.Labels = map[string]string{"a": "true"}
+				pod.Spec.NodeName = "foo"
+				if tc.podPhase != "" {
+					pod.Status.Phase = tc.podPhase
+				}
 
-			_, err := evictionRest.Create(testContext, name, tc.eviction, nil, &metav1.CreateOptions{})
-			if (err != nil) != tc.expectError {
-				t.Errorf("expected error=%v, got %v; name %v", tc.expectError, err, pod.Name)
-				return
-			}
+				if tc.podTerminating {
+					currentTime := metav1.Now()
+					pod.ObjectMeta.DeletionTimestamp = &currentTime
+				}
 
-			if tc.expectedDeleteCount != ms.deleteCount {
-				t.Errorf("expected delete count=%v, got %v; name %v", tc.expectedDeleteCount, ms.deleteCount, pod.Name)
-			}
+				// Setup pod condition
+				if tc.prc != nil {
+					if !podapi.UpdatePodCondition(&pod.Status, prcCopy) {
+						t.Fatalf("Unable to update pod ready condition")
+					}
+				}
 
-		})
+				client := fake.NewSimpleClientset(pdbsCopy...)
+				evictionRest := newEvictionStorage(ms, client.PolicyV1())
+
+				name := pod.Name
+				ms.pod = pod
+
+				_, err := evictionRest.Create(testContext, name, evictionCopy, nil, &metav1.CreateOptions{})
+				gotErr := errToString(err)
+				if gotErr != tc.expectError {
+					t.Errorf("error mismatch: expected %v, got %v; name %v", tc.expectError, gotErr, pod.Name)
+					return
+				}
+
+				if tc.expectedDeleteCount != ms.deleteCount {
+					t.Errorf("expected delete count=%v, got %v; name %v", tc.expectedDeleteCount, ms.deleteCount, pod.Name)
+				}
+			})
+		}
 	}
 }
 
@@ -692,3 +798,41 @@ func (ms *mockStore) ConvertToTable(ctx context.Context, object runtime.Object,
 
 func (ms *mockStore) Destroy() {
 }
+
+func unhealthyPolicyPtr(unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy policyv1.UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyType) *policyv1.UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyType {
+	return &unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy
+}
+
+func unhealthyPolicyStr(unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy *policyv1.UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyType) string {
+	if unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy == nil {
+		return "nil"
+	}
+	return string(*unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy)
+}
+
+func hasUnhealthyPolicy(unhealthyPolicies []*policyv1.UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyType, unhealthyPolicy *policyv1.UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyType) bool {
+	for _, p := range unhealthyPolicies {
+		if reflect.DeepEqual(unhealthyPolicy, p) {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+func errToString(err error) string {
+	result := ""
+	if err != nil {
+		result = err.Error()
+		if statusErr, ok := err.(*apierrors.StatusError); ok {
+			result += fmt.Sprintf(": %v", statusErr.ErrStatus.Reason)
+			if statusErr.ErrStatus.Details != nil {
+				for _, cause := range statusErr.ErrStatus.Details.Causes {
+					if !strings.HasSuffix(err.Error(), cause.Message) {
+						result += fmt.Sprintf(": %v", cause.Message)
+					}
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return result
+}
diff --git a/pkg/registry/policy/poddisruptionbudget/strategy.go b/pkg/registry/policy/poddisruptionbudget/strategy.go
index 9be2b55ffd6..4938929cd32 100644
--- a/pkg/registry/policy/poddisruptionbudget/strategy.go
+++ b/pkg/registry/policy/poddisruptionbudget/strategy.go
@@ -26,9 +26,11 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/validation/field"
 	genericapirequest "k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/endpoints/request"
 	"k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/storage/names"
+	utilfeature "k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/util/feature"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/api/legacyscheme"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/apis/policy"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/apis/policy/validation"
+	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/features"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/structured-merge-diff/v4/fieldpath"
 )
 
@@ -68,6 +70,8 @@ func (podDisruptionBudgetStrategy) PrepareForCreate(ctx context.Context, obj run
 	podDisruptionBudget.Status = policy.PodDisruptionBudgetStatus{}
 
 	podDisruptionBudget.Generation = 1
+
+	dropDisabledFields(&podDisruptionBudget.Spec, nil)
 }
 
 // PrepareForUpdate clears fields that are not allowed to be set by end users on update.
@@ -83,6 +87,8 @@ func (podDisruptionBudgetStrategy) PrepareForUpdate(ctx context.Context, obj, ol
 	if !apiequality.Semantic.DeepEqual(oldPodDisruptionBudget.Spec, newPodDisruptionBudget.Spec) {
 		newPodDisruptionBudget.Generation = oldPodDisruptionBudget.Generation + 1
 	}
+
+	dropDisabledFields(&newPodDisruptionBudget.Spec, &oldPodDisruptionBudget.Spec)
 }
 
 // Validate validates a new PodDisruptionBudget.
@@ -182,3 +188,23 @@ func hasInvalidLabelValueInLabelSelector(pdb *policy.PodDisruptionBudget) bool {
 	}
 	return false
 }
+
+// dropDisabledFields removes disabled fields from the pod disruption budget spec.
+// This should be called from PrepareForCreate/PrepareForUpdate for all resources containing a pod disruption budget spec.
+func dropDisabledFields(pdbSpec, oldPDBSpec *policy.PodDisruptionBudgetSpec) {
+	if !utilfeature.DefaultFeatureGate.Enabled(features.PDBUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy) {
+		if !unhealthyPodEvictionPolicyInUse(oldPDBSpec) {
+			pdbSpec.UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy = nil
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func unhealthyPodEvictionPolicyInUse(oldPDBSpec *policy.PodDisruptionBudgetSpec) bool {
+	if oldPDBSpec == nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	if oldPDBSpec.UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy != nil {
+		return true
+	}
+	return false
+}
diff --git a/pkg/registry/policy/poddisruptionbudget/strategy_test.go b/pkg/registry/policy/poddisruptionbudget/strategy_test.go
index 3aef68575c0..7bc81802002 100644
--- a/pkg/registry/policy/poddisruptionbudget/strategy_test.go
+++ b/pkg/registry/policy/poddisruptionbudget/strategy_test.go
@@ -17,15 +17,176 @@ limitations under the License.
 package poddisruptionbudget
 
 import (
+	"reflect"
 	"testing"
 
+	"github.com/google/go-cmp/cmp"
+
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/intstr"
 	genericapirequest "k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/endpoints/request"
+	utilfeature "k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/util/feature"
+	featuregatetesting "k8s.io/component-base/featuregate/testing"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/apis/policy"
+	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/features"
 )
 
+type unhealthyPodEvictionPolicyStrategyTestCase struct {
+	name                                                       string
+	enableUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy                           bool
+	disablePDBUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyFeatureGateAfterCreate bool
+	unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy                                 *policy.UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyType
+	expectedUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy                         *policy.UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyType
+	expectedValidationErr                                      bool
+	updateUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy                           *policy.UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyType
+	expectedUpdateUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy                   *policy.UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyType
+	expectedValidationUpdateErr                                bool
+}
+
 func TestPodDisruptionBudgetStrategy(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := map[string]bool{
+		"PodDisruptionBudget strategy with PDBUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy feature gate disabled": false,
+		"PodDisruptionBudget strategy with PDBUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy feature gate enabled":  true,
+	}
+
+	for name, enableUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy := range tests {
+		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			defer featuregatetesting.SetFeatureGateDuringTest(t, utilfeature.DefaultFeatureGate, features.PDBUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy, enableUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy)()
+			testPodDisruptionBudgetStrategy(t)
+		})
+	}
+
+	healthyPolicyTests := []unhealthyPodEvictionPolicyStrategyTestCase{
+		{
+			name:                             "PodDisruptionBudget strategy with FeatureGate disabled should remove unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy",
+			enableUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy: false,
+			unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy:       unhealthyPolicyPtr(policy.IfHealthyBudget),
+			updateUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy: unhealthyPolicyPtr(policy.IfHealthyBudget),
+		},
+		{
+			name:                             "PodDisruptionBudget strategy with FeatureGate disabled should remove invalid unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy",
+			enableUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy: false,
+			unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy:       unhealthyPolicyPtr("Invalid"),
+			updateUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy: unhealthyPolicyPtr("Invalid"),
+		},
+		{
+			name:                             "PodDisruptionBudget strategy with FeatureGate enabled",
+			enableUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name:                                     "PodDisruptionBudget strategy with FeatureGate enabled should respect unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy",
+			enableUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy:         true,
+			unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy:               unhealthyPolicyPtr(policy.AlwaysAllow),
+			expectedUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy:       unhealthyPolicyPtr(policy.AlwaysAllow),
+			updateUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy:         unhealthyPolicyPtr(policy.IfHealthyBudget),
+			expectedUpdateUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy: unhealthyPolicyPtr(policy.IfHealthyBudget),
+		},
+		{
+			name:                             "PodDisruptionBudget strategy with FeatureGate enabled should fail invalid unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy",
+			enableUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy: true,
+			unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy:       unhealthyPolicyPtr("Invalid"),
+			expectedValidationErr:            true,
+		},
+		{
+			name:                             "PodDisruptionBudget strategy with FeatureGate enabled should fail invalid unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy when updated",
+			enableUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy: true,
+			updateUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy: unhealthyPolicyPtr("Invalid"),
+			expectedValidationUpdateErr:      true,
+		},
+		{
+			name:                             "PodDisruptionBudget strategy with unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy should be updated when feature gate is disabled",
+			enableUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy: true,
+			disablePDBUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyFeatureGateAfterCreate: true,
+			unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy:                                 unhealthyPolicyPtr(policy.AlwaysAllow),
+			expectedUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy:                         unhealthyPolicyPtr(policy.AlwaysAllow),
+			updateUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy:                           unhealthyPolicyPtr(policy.IfHealthyBudget),
+			expectedUpdateUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy:                   unhealthyPolicyPtr(policy.IfHealthyBudget),
+		},
+		{
+			name:                             "PodDisruptionBudget strategy with unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy should not be updated to invalid when feature gate is disabled",
+			enableUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy: true,
+			disablePDBUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyFeatureGateAfterCreate: true,
+			unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy:                                 unhealthyPolicyPtr(policy.AlwaysAllow),
+			expectedUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy:                         unhealthyPolicyPtr(policy.AlwaysAllow),
+			updateUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy:                           unhealthyPolicyPtr("Invalid"),
+			expectedValidationUpdateErr:                                true,
+			expectedUpdateUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy:                   unhealthyPolicyPtr(policy.AlwaysAllow),
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range healthyPolicyTests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			testPodDisruptionBudgetStrategyWithUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy(t, tc)
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func testPodDisruptionBudgetStrategyWithUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy(t *testing.T, tc unhealthyPodEvictionPolicyStrategyTestCase) {
+	defer featuregatetesting.SetFeatureGateDuringTest(t, utilfeature.DefaultFeatureGate, features.PDBUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy, tc.enableUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy)()
+	ctx := genericapirequest.NewDefaultContext()
+	if !Strategy.NamespaceScoped() {
+		t.Errorf("PodDisruptionBudget must be namespace scoped")
+	}
+	if Strategy.AllowCreateOnUpdate() {
+		t.Errorf("PodDisruptionBudget should not allow create on update")
+	}
+
+	validSelector := map[string]string{"a": "b"}
+	minAvailable := intstr.FromInt(3)
+	pdb := &policy.PodDisruptionBudget{
+		ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "abc", Namespace: metav1.NamespaceDefault},
+		Spec: policy.PodDisruptionBudgetSpec{
+			MinAvailable:               &minAvailable,
+			Selector:                   &metav1.LabelSelector{MatchLabels: validSelector},
+			UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy: tc.unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy,
+		},
+	}
+
+	Strategy.PrepareForCreate(ctx, pdb)
+	errs := Strategy.Validate(ctx, pdb)
+	if len(errs) != 0 {
+		if !tc.expectedValidationErr {
+			t.Errorf("Unexpected error validating %v", errs)
+		}
+		return // no point going further when we have invalid PDB
+	}
+	if len(errs) == 0 && tc.expectedValidationErr {
+		t.Errorf("Expected error validating")
+	}
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(pdb.Spec.UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy, tc.expectedUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy) {
+		t.Errorf("Unexpected UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy set: expected %v, got %v", tc.expectedUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy, pdb.Spec.UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy)
+	}
+	if tc.disablePDBUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyFeatureGateAfterCreate {
+		defer featuregatetesting.SetFeatureGateDuringTest(t, utilfeature.DefaultFeatureGate, features.PDBUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy, false)()
+	}
+
+	newPdb := &policy.PodDisruptionBudget{
+		ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: pdb.Name, Namespace: pdb.Namespace},
+		Spec:       pdb.Spec,
+	}
+	if tc.updateUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy != nil {
+		newPdb.Spec.UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy = tc.updateUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy
+	}
+
+	// Nothing in Spec changes: OK
+	Strategy.PrepareForUpdate(ctx, newPdb, pdb)
+	errs = Strategy.ValidateUpdate(ctx, newPdb, pdb)
+
+	if len(errs) != 0 {
+		if !tc.expectedValidationUpdateErr {
+			t.Errorf("Unexpected error updating PodDisruptionBudget %v", errs)
+		}
+		return // no point going further when we have invalid PDB
+	}
+	if len(errs) == 0 && tc.expectedValidationUpdateErr {
+		t.Errorf("Expected error updating PodDisruptionBudget")
+	}
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(newPdb.Spec.UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy, tc.expectedUpdateUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy) {
+		t.Errorf("Unexpected UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy set: expected %v, got %v", tc.expectedUpdateUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy, newPdb.Spec.UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy)
+	}
+}
+
+func testPodDisruptionBudgetStrategy(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx := genericapirequest.NewDefaultContext()
 	if !Strategy.NamespaceScoped() {
 		t.Errorf("PodDisruptionBudget must be namespace scoped")
@@ -210,3 +371,86 @@ func TestPodDisruptionBudgetStatusValidationByApiVersion(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+func TestDropDisabledFields(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := map[string]struct {
+		oldSpec                          *policy.PodDisruptionBudgetSpec
+		newSpec                          *policy.PodDisruptionBudgetSpec
+		expectNewSpec                    *policy.PodDisruptionBudgetSpec
+		enableUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy bool
+	}{
+		"disabled clears unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy": {
+			enableUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy: false,
+			oldSpec:                          nil,
+			newSpec:                          specWithUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy(unhealthyPolicyPtr(policy.IfHealthyBudget)),
+			expectNewSpec:                    specWithUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy(nil),
+		},
+		"disabled does not allow updating unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy": {
+			enableUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy: false,
+			oldSpec:                          specWithUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy(nil),
+			newSpec:                          specWithUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy(unhealthyPolicyPtr(policy.IfHealthyBudget)),
+			expectNewSpec:                    specWithUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy(nil),
+		},
+		"disabled preserves old unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy when both old and new have it": {
+			enableUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy: false,
+			oldSpec:                          specWithUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy(unhealthyPolicyPtr(policy.IfHealthyBudget)),
+			newSpec:                          specWithUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy(unhealthyPolicyPtr(policy.IfHealthyBudget)),
+			expectNewSpec:                    specWithUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy(unhealthyPolicyPtr(policy.IfHealthyBudget)),
+		},
+		"disabled allows updating unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy": {
+			enableUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy: false,
+			oldSpec:                          specWithUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy(unhealthyPolicyPtr(policy.IfHealthyBudget)),
+			newSpec:                          specWithUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy(unhealthyPolicyPtr(policy.AlwaysAllow)),
+			expectNewSpec:                    specWithUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy(unhealthyPolicyPtr(policy.AlwaysAllow)),
+		},
+		"enabled preserve unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy": {
+			enableUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy: true,
+			oldSpec:                          nil,
+			newSpec:                          specWithUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy(unhealthyPolicyPtr(policy.IfHealthyBudget)),
+			expectNewSpec:                    specWithUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy(unhealthyPolicyPtr(policy.IfHealthyBudget)),
+		},
+		"enabled allows updating unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy": {
+			enableUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy: true,
+			oldSpec:                          specWithUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy(nil),
+			newSpec:                          specWithUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy(unhealthyPolicyPtr(policy.IfHealthyBudget)),
+			expectNewSpec:                    specWithUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy(unhealthyPolicyPtr(policy.IfHealthyBudget)),
+		},
+		"enabled preserve unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy when both old and new have it": {
+			enableUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy: true,
+			oldSpec:                          specWithUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy(unhealthyPolicyPtr(policy.IfHealthyBudget)),
+			newSpec:                          specWithUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy(unhealthyPolicyPtr(policy.IfHealthyBudget)),
+			expectNewSpec:                    specWithUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy(unhealthyPolicyPtr(policy.IfHealthyBudget)),
+		},
+		"enabled updates unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy": {
+			enableUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy: true,
+			oldSpec:                          specWithUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy(unhealthyPolicyPtr(policy.IfHealthyBudget)),
+			newSpec:                          specWithUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy(unhealthyPolicyPtr(policy.AlwaysAllow)),
+			expectNewSpec:                    specWithUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy(unhealthyPolicyPtr(policy.AlwaysAllow)),
+		},
+	}
+
+	for name, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			defer featuregatetesting.SetFeatureGateDuringTest(t, utilfeature.DefaultFeatureGate, features.PDBUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy, tc.enableUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy)()
+
+			oldSpecBefore := tc.oldSpec.DeepCopy()
+			dropDisabledFields(tc.newSpec, tc.oldSpec)
+			if !reflect.DeepEqual(tc.newSpec, tc.expectNewSpec) {
+				t.Error(cmp.Diff(tc.newSpec, tc.expectNewSpec))
+			}
+			if !reflect.DeepEqual(tc.oldSpec, oldSpecBefore) {
+				t.Error(cmp.Diff(tc.oldSpec, oldSpecBefore))
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func unhealthyPolicyPtr(unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy policy.UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyType) *policy.UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyType {
+	return &unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy
+}
+
+func specWithUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy(unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy *policy.UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyType) *policy.PodDisruptionBudgetSpec {
+	return &policy.PodDisruptionBudgetSpec{
+		UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy: unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy,
+	}
+}
diff --git a/staging/src/k8s.io/api/policy/v1/types.go b/staging/src/k8s.io/api/policy/v1/types.go
index 4a03696f000..6aec30b89b2 100644
--- a/staging/src/k8s.io/api/policy/v1/types.go
+++ b/staging/src/k8s.io/api/policy/v1/types.go
@@ -47,8 +47,56 @@ type PodDisruptionBudgetSpec struct {
 	// by specifying 0. This is a mutually exclusive setting with "minAvailable".
 	// +optional
 	MaxUnavailable *intstr.IntOrString `json:"maxUnavailable,omitempty" protobuf:"bytes,3,opt,name=maxUnavailable"`
+
+	// UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy defines the criteria for when unhealthy pods
+	// should be considered for eviction. Current implementation considers healthy pods,
+	// as pods that have status.conditions item with type="Ready",status="True".
+	//
+	// Valid policies are IfHealthyBudget and AlwaysAllow.
+	// If no policy is specified, the default behavior will be used,
+	// which corresponds to the IfHealthyBudget policy.
+	//
+	// IfHealthyBudget policy means that running pods (status.phase="Running"),
+	// but not yet healthy can be evicted only if the guarded application is not
+	// disrupted (status.currentHealthy is at least equal to status.desiredHealthy).
+	// Healthy pods will be subject to the PDB for eviction.
+	//
+	// AlwaysAllow policy means that all running pods (status.phase="Running"),
+	// but not yet healthy are considered disrupted and can be evicted regardless
+	// of whether the criteria in a PDB is met. This means perspective running
+	// pods of a disrupted application might not get a chance to become healthy.
+	// Healthy pods will be subject to the PDB for eviction.
+	//
+	// Additional policies may be added in the future.
+	// Clients making eviction decisions should disallow eviction of unhealthy pods
+	// if they encounter an unrecognized policy in this field.
+	//
+	// This field is alpha-level. The eviction API uses this field when
+	// the feature gate PDBUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy is enabled (disabled by default).
+	// +optional
+	UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy *UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyType `json:"unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy,omitempty" protobuf:"bytes,4,opt,name=unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy"`
 }
 
+// UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyType defines the criteria for when unhealthy pods
+// should be considered for eviction.
+// +enum
+type UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyType string
+
+const (
+	// IfHealthyBudget policy means that running pods (status.phase="Running"),
+	// but not yet healthy can be evicted only if the guarded application is not
+	// disrupted (status.currentHealthy is at least equal to status.desiredHealthy).
+	// Healthy pods will be subject to the PDB for eviction.
+	IfHealthyBudget UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyType = "IfHealthyBudget"
+
+	// AlwaysAllow policy means that all running pods (status.phase="Running"),
+	// but not yet healthy are considered disrupted and can be evicted regardless
+	// of whether the criteria in a PDB is met. This means perspective running
+	// pods of a disrupted application might not get a chance to become healthy.
+	// Healthy pods will be subject to the PDB for eviction.
+	AlwaysAllow UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyType = "AlwaysAllow"
+)
+
 // PodDisruptionBudgetStatus represents information about the status of a
 // PodDisruptionBudget. Status may trail the actual state of a system.
 type PodDisruptionBudgetStatus struct {
diff --git a/staging/src/k8s.io/api/policy/v1beta1/types.go b/staging/src/k8s.io/api/policy/v1beta1/types.go
index 222b4664b4c..863b2b87323 100644
--- a/staging/src/k8s.io/api/policy/v1beta1/types.go
+++ b/staging/src/k8s.io/api/policy/v1beta1/types.go
@@ -45,8 +45,56 @@ type PodDisruptionBudgetSpec struct {
 	// by specifying 0. This is a mutually exclusive setting with "minAvailable".
 	// +optional
 	MaxUnavailable *intstr.IntOrString `json:"maxUnavailable,omitempty" protobuf:"bytes,3,opt,name=maxUnavailable"`
+
+	// UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy defines the criteria for when unhealthy pods
+	// should be considered for eviction. Current implementation considers healthy pods,
+	// as pods that have status.conditions item with type="Ready",status="True".
+	//
+	// Valid policies are IfHealthyBudget and AlwaysAllow.
+	// If no policy is specified, the default behavior will be used,
+	// which corresponds to the IfHealthyBudget policy.
+	//
+	// IfHealthyBudget policy means that running pods (status.phase="Running"),
+	// but not yet healthy can be evicted only if the guarded application is not
+	// disrupted (status.currentHealthy is at least equal to status.desiredHealthy).
+	// Healthy pods will be subject to the PDB for eviction.
+	//
+	// AlwaysAllow policy means that all running pods (status.phase="Running"),
+	// but not yet healthy are considered disrupted and can be evicted regardless
+	// of whether the criteria in a PDB is met. This means perspective running
+	// pods of a disrupted application might not get a chance to become healthy.
+	// Healthy pods will be subject to the PDB for eviction.
+	//
+	// Additional policies may be added in the future.
+	// Clients making eviction decisions should disallow eviction of unhealthy pods
+	// if they encounter an unrecognized policy in this field.
+	//
+	// This field is alpha-level. The eviction API uses this field when
+	// the feature gate PDBUnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy is enabled (disabled by default).
+	// +optional
+	UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicy *UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyType `json:"unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy,omitempty" protobuf:"bytes,4,opt,name=unhealthyPodEvictionPolicy"`
 }
 
+// UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyType defines the criteria for when unhealthy pods
+// should be considered for eviction.
+// +enum
+type UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyType string
+
+const (
+	// IfHealthyBudget policy means that running pods (status.phase="Running"),
+	// but not yet healthy can be evicted only if the guarded application is not
+	// disrupted (status.currentHealthy is at least equal to status.desiredHealthy).
+	// Healthy pods will be subject to the PDB for eviction.
+	IfHealthyBudget UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyType = "IfHealthyBudget"
+
+	// AlwaysAllow policy means that all running pods (status.phase="Running"),
+	// but not yet healthy are considered disrupted and can be evicted regardless
+	// of whether the criteria in a PDB is met. This means perspective running
+	// pods of a disrupted application might not get a chance to become healthy.
+	// Healthy pods will be subject to the PDB for eviction.
+	AlwaysAllow UnhealthyPodEvictionPolicyType = "AlwaysAllow"
+)
+
 // PodDisruptionBudgetStatus represents information about the status of a
 // PodDisruptionBudget. Status may trail the actual state of a system.
 type PodDisruptionBudgetStatus struct {