diff --git a/staging/publishing/rules.yaml b/staging/publishing/rules.yaml
index 7611901ea91..7eaf95e201e 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-1.22
-    go: 1.16.15
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.22
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/code-generator
   - name: release-1.23
     go: 1.19.4
     source:
@@ -36,11 +31,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/apimachinery
-  - name: release-1.22
-    go: 1.16.15
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.22
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/apimachinery
   - name: release-1.23
     go: 1.19.4
     source:
@@ -71,14 +61,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/api
-  - name: release-1.22
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.22
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.22
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/api
   - name: release-1.23
     go: 1.19.4
     dependencies:
@@ -127,20 +109,6 @@ rules:
       # assumes GO111MODULE=on
       go build -mod=mod ./...
       go test -mod=mod ./...
-  - name: release-1.22
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.22
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.22
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/client-go
-    smoke-test: |
-      # assumes GO111MODULE=on
-      go build -mod=mod ./...
-      go test -mod=mod ./...
   - name: release-1.23
     go: 1.19.4
     dependencies:
@@ -211,18 +179,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/component-base
-  - name: release-1.22
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.22
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.22
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/component-base
   - name: release-1.23
     go: 1.19.4
     dependencies:
@@ -285,18 +241,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/component-helpers
-  - name: release-1.22
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.22
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.22
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/component-helpers
   - name: release-1.23
     go: 1.19.4
     dependencies:
@@ -378,20 +322,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver
-  - name: release-1.22
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.22
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.22
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/apiserver
   - name: release-1.23
     go: 1.19.4
     dependencies:
@@ -472,24 +402,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/kube-aggregator
-  - name: release-1.22
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: apiserver
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: code-generator
-      branch: release-1.22
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.22
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/kube-aggregator
   - name: release-1.23
     go: 1.19.4
     dependencies:
@@ -590,29 +502,6 @@ rules:
     smoke-test: |
       # assumes GO111MODULE=on
       go build -mod=mod .
-  - name: release-1.22
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: apiserver
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: code-generator
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.22
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.22
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/sample-apiserver
-    required-packages:
-    - k8s.io/code-generator
-    smoke-test: |
-      # assumes GO111MODULE=on
-      go build -mod=mod .
   - name: release-1.23
     go: 1.19.4
     dependencies:
@@ -727,25 +616,6 @@ rules:
     smoke-test: |
       # assumes GO111MODULE=on
       go build -mod=mod .
-  - name: release-1.22
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: code-generator
-      branch: release-1.22
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.22
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/sample-controller
-    required-packages:
-    - k8s.io/code-generator
-    smoke-test: |
-      # assumes GO111MODULE=on
-      go build -mod=mod .
   - name: release-1.23
     go: 1.19.4
     dependencies:
@@ -845,26 +715,6 @@ rules:
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/apiextensions-apiserver
     required-packages:
     - k8s.io/code-generator
-  - name: release-1.22
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: apiserver
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: code-generator
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.22
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.22
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/apiextensions-apiserver
-    required-packages:
-    - k8s.io/code-generator
   - name: release-1.23
     go: 1.19.4
     dependencies:
@@ -962,20 +812,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/metrics
-  - name: release-1.22
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: code-generator
-      branch: release-1.22
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.22
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/metrics
   - name: release-1.23
     go: 1.19.4
     dependencies:
@@ -1046,18 +882,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/cli-runtime
-  - name: release-1.22
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.22
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.22
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/cli-runtime
   - name: release-1.23
     go: 1.19.4
     dependencies:
@@ -1122,20 +946,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/sample-cli-plugin
-  - name: release-1.22
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: cli-runtime
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.22
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.22
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/sample-cli-plugin
   - name: release-1.23
     go: 1.19.4
     dependencies:
@@ -1207,20 +1017,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/kube-proxy
-  - name: release-1.22
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.22
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.22
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/kube-proxy
   - name: release-1.23
     go: 1.19.4
     dependencies:
@@ -1293,20 +1089,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/kubelet
-  - name: release-1.22
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.22
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.22
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/kubelet
   - name: release-1.23
     go: 1.19.4
     dependencies:
@@ -1379,20 +1161,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/kube-scheduler
-  - name: release-1.22
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.22
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.22
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/kube-scheduler
   - name: release-1.23
     go: 1.19.4
     dependencies:
@@ -1469,22 +1237,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/controller-manager
-  - name: release-1.22
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: apiserver
-      branch: release-1.22
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.22
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/controller-manager
   - name: release-1.23
     go: 1.19.4
     dependencies:
@@ -1575,26 +1327,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/cloud-provider
-  - name: release-1.22
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: apiserver
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: controller-manager
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: component-helpers
-      branch: release-1.22
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.22
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/cloud-provider
   - name: release-1.23
     go: 1.19.4
     dependencies:
@@ -1703,28 +1435,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/kube-controller-manager
-  - name: release-1.22
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: apiserver
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: controller-manager
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: cloud-provider
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: component-helpers
-      branch: release-1.22
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.22
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/kube-controller-manager
   - name: release-1.23
     go: 1.19.4
     dependencies:
@@ -1827,16 +1537,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/cluster-bootstrap
-  - name: release-1.22
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.22
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.22
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/cluster-bootstrap
   - name: release-1.23
     go: 1.19.4
     dependencies:
@@ -1889,16 +1589,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/csi-translation-lib
-  - name: release-1.22
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.22
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.22
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/csi-translation-lib
   - name: release-1.23
     go: 1.19.4
     dependencies:
@@ -1946,11 +1636,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/mount-utils
-  - name: release-1.22
-    go: 1.16.15
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.22
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/mount-utils
   - name: release-1.23
     go: 1.19.4
     source:
@@ -1999,32 +1684,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/legacy-cloud-providers
-  - name: release-1.22
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: cloud-provider
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: csi-translation-lib
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: apiserver
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: controller-manager
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: mount-utils
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: component-helpers
-      branch: release-1.22
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.22
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/legacy-cloud-providers
   - name: release-1.23
     go: 1.19.4
     dependencies:
@@ -2138,11 +1797,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/cri-api
-  - name: release-1.22
-    go: 1.16.15
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.22
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/cri-api
   - name: release-1.23
     go: 1.19.4
     source:
@@ -2187,28 +1841,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/kubectl
-  - name: release-1.22
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: cli-runtime
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: code-generator
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: component-helpers
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: metrics
-      branch: release-1.22
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.22
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/kubectl
   - name: release-1.23
     go: 1.19.4
     dependencies:
@@ -2317,22 +1949,6 @@ rules:
     source:
       branch: master
       dir: staging/src/k8s.io/pod-security-admission
-  - name: release-1.22
-    go: 1.16.15
-    dependencies:
-    - repository: api
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: apimachinery
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: apiserver
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: client-go
-      branch: release-1.22
-    - repository: component-base
-      branch: release-1.22
-    source:
-      branch: release-1.22
-      dir: staging/src/k8s.io/pod-security-admission
   - name: release-1.23
     go: 1.19.4
     dependencies: