diff --git a/staging/publishing/rules.yaml b/staging/publishing/rules.yaml
index 2a9ed4436fe..3464dedb3fb 100644
--- a/staging/publishing/rules.yaml
+++ b/staging/publishing/rules.yaml
@@ -5,11 +5,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/code-generator
-  - name: release-1.21
-    go: 1.16.15
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.21
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/code-generator
   - name: release-1.22
     go: 1.16.15
     source:
@@ -31,11 +26,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/apimachinery
-  - name: release-1.21
-    go: 1.16.15
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.21
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/apimachinery
   - name: release-1.22
     go: 1.16.15
     source:
@@ -61,14 +51,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/api
-  - name: release-1.21
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.21
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.21
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/api
   - name: release-1.22
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies:
@@ -109,20 +91,6 @@ rules:
       # assumes GO111MODULE=on
       go build -mod=mod ./...
       go test -mod=mod ./...
-  - name: release-1.21
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.21
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.21
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/client-go
-    smoke-test: |
-      # assumes GO111MODULE=on
-      go build -mod=mod ./...
-      go test -mod=mod ./...
   - name: release-1.22
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies:
@@ -179,18 +147,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/component-base
-  - name: release-1.21
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.21
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.21
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/component-base
   - name: release-1.22
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies:
@@ -241,18 +197,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/component-helpers
-  - name: release-1.21
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.21
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.21
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/component-helpers
   - name: release-1.22
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies:
@@ -305,20 +249,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver
-  - name: release-1.21
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.21
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.21
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver
   - name: release-1.22
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies:
@@ -381,24 +311,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/kube-aggregator
-  - name: release-1.21
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: apiserver
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: code-generator
-      branch: release-1.21
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.21
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/kube-aggregator
   - name: release-1.22
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies:
@@ -477,29 +389,6 @@ rules:
     smoke-test: |
       # assumes GO111MODULE=on
       go build -mod=mod .
-  - name: release-1.21
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: apiserver
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: code-generator
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.21
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.21
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/sample-apiserver
-    required-packages:
-    - k8s.io/code-generator
-    smoke-test: |
-      # assumes GO111MODULE=on
-      go build -mod=mod .
   - name: release-1.22
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies:
@@ -589,25 +478,6 @@ rules:
     smoke-test: |
       # assumes GO111MODULE=on
       go build -mod=mod .
-  - name: release-1.21
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: code-generator
-      branch: release-1.21
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.21
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/sample-controller
-    required-packages:
-    - k8s.io/code-generator
-    smoke-test: |
-      # assumes GO111MODULE=on
-      go build -mod=mod .
   - name: release-1.22
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies:
@@ -686,26 +556,6 @@ rules:
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/apiextensions-apiserver
     required-packages:
     - k8s.io/code-generator
-  - name: release-1.21
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: apiserver
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: code-generator
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.21
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.21
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/apiextensions-apiserver
-    required-packages:
-    - k8s.io/code-generator
   - name: release-1.22
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies:
@@ -781,20 +631,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/metrics
-  - name: release-1.21
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: code-generator
-      branch: release-1.21
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.21
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/metrics
   - name: release-1.22
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies:
@@ -851,18 +687,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/cli-runtime
-  - name: release-1.21
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.21
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.21
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/cli-runtime
   - name: release-1.22
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies:
@@ -915,20 +739,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/sample-cli-plugin
-  - name: release-1.21
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: cli-runtime
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.21
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.21
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/sample-cli-plugin
   - name: release-1.22
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies:
@@ -986,20 +796,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/kube-proxy
-  - name: release-1.21
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.21
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.21
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/kube-proxy
   - name: release-1.22
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies:
@@ -1058,20 +854,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/kubelet
-  - name: release-1.21
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.21
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.21
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/kubelet
   - name: release-1.22
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies:
@@ -1130,20 +912,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/kube-scheduler
-  - name: release-1.21
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.21
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.21
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/kube-scheduler
   - name: release-1.22
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies:
@@ -1204,22 +972,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/controller-manager
-  - name: release-1.21
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: apiserver
-      branch: release-1.21
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.21
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/controller-manager
   - name: release-1.22
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies:
@@ -1290,26 +1042,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/cloud-provider
-  - name: release-1.21
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: apiserver
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: controller-manager
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: component-helpers
-      branch: release-1.21
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.21
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/cloud-provider
   - name: release-1.22
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies:
@@ -1394,28 +1126,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/kube-controller-manager
-  - name: release-1.21
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: apiserver
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: controller-manager
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: cloud-provider
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: component-helpers
-      branch: release-1.21
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.21
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/kube-controller-manager
   - name: release-1.22
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies:
@@ -1494,16 +1204,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/cluster-bootstrap
-  - name: release-1.21
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.21
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.21
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/cluster-bootstrap
   - name: release-1.22
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies:
@@ -1546,16 +1246,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/csi-translation-lib
-  - name: release-1.21
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.21
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.21
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/csi-translation-lib
   - name: release-1.22
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies:
@@ -1593,11 +1283,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/mount-utils
-  - name: release-1.21
-    go: 1.16.15
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.21
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/mount-utils
   - name: release-1.22
     go: 1.16.15
     source:
@@ -1641,30 +1326,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/legacy-cloud-providers
-  - name: release-1.21
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: cloud-provider
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: csi-translation-lib
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: apiserver
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: controller-manager
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: component-helpers
-      branch: release-1.21
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.21
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/legacy-cloud-providers
   - name: release-1.22
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies:
@@ -1750,11 +1411,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/cri-api
-  - name: release-1.21
-    go: 1.16.15
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.21
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/cri-api
   - name: release-1.22
     go: 1.16.15
     source:
@@ -1794,28 +1450,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/kubectl
-  - name: release-1.21
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: cli-runtime
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: code-generator
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: component-helpers
-      branch: release-1.21
-    - repository: metrics
-      branch: release-1.21
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.21
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/kubectl
   - name: release-1.22
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies: