diff --git a/staging/publishing/rules.yaml b/staging/publishing/rules.yaml
index f1c1672a1b6..0032978c2e3 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-1.20
-    go: 1.15.15
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.20
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/code-generator
   - name: release-1.21
     go: 1.16.15
     source:
@@ -35,11 +30,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/apimachinery
-  - name: release-1.20
-    go: 1.15.15
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.20
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/apimachinery
   - name: release-1.21
     go: 1.16.15
     source:
@@ -69,14 +59,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/api
-  - name: release-1.20
-    go: 1.15.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.20
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.20
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/api
   - name: release-1.21
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies:
@@ -124,20 +106,6 @@ rules:
       # assumes GO111MODULE=on
       go build -mod=mod ./...
       go test -mod=mod ./...
-  - name: release-1.20
-    go: 1.15.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.20
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.20
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/client-go
-    smoke-test: |
-      # assumes GO111MODULE=on
-      go build -mod=mod ./...
-      go test -mod=mod ./...
   - name: release-1.21
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies:
@@ -207,18 +175,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/component-base
-  - name: release-1.20
-    go: 1.15.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.20
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.20
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/component-base
   - name: release-1.21
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies:
@@ -280,18 +236,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/component-helpers
-  - name: release-1.20
-    go: 1.15.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.20
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.20
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/component-helpers
   - name: release-1.21
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies:
@@ -355,20 +299,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver
-  - name: release-1.20
-    go: 1.15.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.20
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.20
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver
   - name: release-1.21
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies:
@@ -444,24 +374,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/kube-aggregator
-  - name: release-1.20
-    go: 1.15.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: apiserver
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: code-generator
-      branch: release-1.20
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.20
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/kube-aggregator
   - name: release-1.21
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies:
@@ -557,29 +469,6 @@ rules:
     smoke-test: |
       # assumes GO111MODULE=on
       go build -mod=mod .
-  - name: release-1.20
-    go: 1.15.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: apiserver
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: code-generator
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.20
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.20
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/sample-apiserver
-    required-packages:
-    - k8s.io/code-generator
-    smoke-test: |
-      # assumes GO111MODULE=on
-      go build -mod=mod .
   - name: release-1.21
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies:
@@ -691,25 +580,6 @@ rules:
     smoke-test: |
       # assumes GO111MODULE=on
       go build -mod=mod .
-  - name: release-1.20
-    go: 1.15.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: code-generator
-      branch: release-1.20
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.20
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/sample-controller
-    required-packages:
-    - k8s.io/code-generator
-    smoke-test: |
-      # assumes GO111MODULE=on
-      go build -mod=mod .
   - name: release-1.21
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies:
@@ -806,26 +676,6 @@ rules:
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/apiextensions-apiserver
     required-packages:
     - k8s.io/code-generator
-  - name: release-1.20
-    go: 1.15.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: apiserver
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: code-generator
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.20
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.20
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/apiextensions-apiserver
-    required-packages:
-    - k8s.io/code-generator
   - name: release-1.21
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies:
@@ -920,20 +770,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/metrics
-  - name: release-1.20
-    go: 1.15.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: code-generator
-      branch: release-1.20
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.20
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/metrics
   - name: release-1.21
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies:
@@ -1003,18 +839,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/cli-runtime
-  - name: release-1.20
-    go: 1.15.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.20
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.20
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/cli-runtime
   - name: release-1.21
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies:
@@ -1078,20 +902,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/sample-cli-plugin
-  - name: release-1.20
-    go: 1.15.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: cli-runtime
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.20
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.20
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/sample-cli-plugin
   - name: release-1.21
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies:
@@ -1162,20 +972,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/kube-proxy
-  - name: release-1.20
-    go: 1.15.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.20
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.20
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/kube-proxy
   - name: release-1.21
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies:
@@ -1247,20 +1043,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/kubelet
-  - name: release-1.20
-    go: 1.15.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.20
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.20
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/kubelet
   - name: release-1.21
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies:
@@ -1332,20 +1114,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/kube-scheduler
-  - name: release-1.20
-    go: 1.15.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.20
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.20
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/kube-scheduler
   - name: release-1.21
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies:
@@ -1419,22 +1187,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/controller-manager
-  - name: release-1.20
-    go: 1.15.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: apiserver
-      branch: release-1.20
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.20
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/controller-manager
   - name: release-1.21
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies:
@@ -1520,26 +1272,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/cloud-provider
-  - name: release-1.20
-    go: 1.15.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: apiserver
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: controller-manager
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: component-helpers
-      branch: release-1.20
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.20
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/cloud-provider
   - name: release-1.21
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies:
@@ -1643,28 +1375,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/kube-controller-manager
-  - name: release-1.20
-    go: 1.15.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: apiserver
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: controller-manager
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: cloud-provider
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: component-helpers
-      branch: release-1.20
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.20
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/kube-controller-manager
   - name: release-1.21
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies:
@@ -1764,16 +1474,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/cluster-bootstrap
-  - name: release-1.20
-    go: 1.15.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.20
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.20
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/cluster-bootstrap
   - name: release-1.21
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies:
@@ -1825,16 +1525,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/csi-translation-lib
-  - name: release-1.20
-    go: 1.15.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.20
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.20
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/csi-translation-lib
   - name: release-1.21
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies:
@@ -1881,11 +1571,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/mount-utils
-  - name: release-1.20
-    go: 1.15.15
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.20
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/mount-utils
   - name: release-1.21
     go: 1.16.15
     source:
@@ -1933,30 +1618,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/legacy-cloud-providers
-  - name: release-1.20
-    go: 1.15.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: cloud-provider
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: csi-translation-lib
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: apiserver
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: controller-manager
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: component-helpers
-      branch: release-1.20
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.20
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/legacy-cloud-providers
   - name: release-1.21
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies:
@@ -2065,11 +1726,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/cri-api
-  - name: release-1.20
-    go: 1.15.15
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.20
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/cri-api
   - name: release-1.21
     go: 1.16.15
     source:
@@ -2113,28 +1769,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/kubectl
-  - name: release-1.20
-    go: 1.15.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: cli-runtime
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: code-generator
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: component-helpers
-      branch: release-1.20
-    - repository: metrics
-      branch: release-1.20
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.20
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/kubectl
   - name: release-1.21
     go: 1.16.15
     dependencies: