diff --git a/.github/workflows/add-labels.yml b/.github/workflows/add-labels.yml
index 3f3a3bb70..d1760238f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/add-labels.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/add-labels.yml
@@ -12,13 +12,8 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
-        with:
-          ref: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.ref }}
-          repository: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.repo.full_name }}
-          token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
 
       - uses: ./
         with:
           helper: add-labels
           labels: Test Label
-          github_token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/add-late-review-label.yml b/.github/workflows/add-late-review-label.yml
index 19e5ba25c..c4868ab26 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/add-late-review-label.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/add-late-review-label.yml
@@ -13,10 +13,6 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
-        with:
-          ref: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.ref }}
-          repository: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.repo.full_name }}
-          token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
 
       - uses: ./
         with:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/add-pr-approval-label.yml b/.github/workflows/add-pr-approval-label.yml
index 829f79505..816da365a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/add-pr-approval-label.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/add-pr-approval-label.yml
@@ -13,10 +13,6 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
-        with:
-          ref: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.ref }}
-          repository: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.repo.full_name }}
-          token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
 
       - uses: ./
         with:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/approvals-satisfied.yml b/.github/workflows/approvals-satisfied.yml
index 81af30b6d..a55cf8cb6 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/approvals-satisfied.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/approvals-satisfied.yml
@@ -12,10 +12,6 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
-        with:
-          ref: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.ref }}
-          repository: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.repo.full_name }}
-          token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
 
       - uses: ./
         id: approvals-satisfied
diff --git a/.github/workflows/approve-pr.yml b/.github/workflows/approve-pr.yml
index 76a62ac45..31f7dc229 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/approve-pr.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/approve-pr.yml
@@ -12,10 +12,6 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
-        with:
-          ref: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.ref }}
-          repository: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.repo.full_name }}
-          token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
 
       - uses: ./
         with:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/assign-pr-reviewers.yml b/.github/workflows/assign-pr-reviewers.yml
index f0f294702..b02aac367 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/assign-pr-reviewers.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/assign-pr-reviewers.yml
@@ -13,10 +13,6 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
-        with:
-          ref: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.ref }}
-          repository: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.repo.full_name }}
-          token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
 
       - uses: ./
         with:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/check-merge-safety.yml b/.github/workflows/check-merge-safety.yml
index 55c060538..3b019d6fd 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/check-merge-safety.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/check-merge-safety.yml
@@ -22,4 +22,3 @@ jobs:
           override_filter_paths: |
             package.json
             package-lock.json
-          github_token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/check-pr-title.yml b/.github/workflows/check-pr-title.yml
index baec23f6c..52dd9fbdd 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/check-pr-title.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/check-pr-title.yml
@@ -25,4 +25,3 @@ jobs:
         with:
           helper: check-pr-title
            # pattern: 'my-regex-pattern' (optional: pattern must be wrapped in single quotes)
-          github_token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/close-pr.yml b/.github/workflows/close-pr.yml
index 1a4e9a854..55022eb30 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/close-pr.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/close-pr.yml
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ on:
     paths:
       - 'src/helpers/close-pr.ts'
 
+permissions: write-all
+
 jobs:
   test:
     if: contains(github.event.pull_request.labels.*.name, 'CLOSE ME')
@@ -14,13 +16,8 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
-        with:
-          ref: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.ref }}
-          repository: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.repo.full_name }}
-          token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
 
       - uses: ./
         with:
           helper: close-pr
           body: Closing this PR for testing purposes!
-          github_token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/create-pr-comment.yml b/.github/workflows/create-pr-comment.yml
index 7fe004903..5e16a69f8 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/create-pr-comment.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/create-pr-comment.yml
@@ -12,13 +12,8 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
-        with:
-          ref: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.ref }}
-          repository: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.repo.full_name }}
-          token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
 
       - uses: ./
         with:
           helper: create-pr-comment
           body: Test Comment
-          github_token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/create-pr.yml b/.github/workflows/create-pr.yml
index 3287f6d3b..ac6b2f97a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/create-pr.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/create-pr.yml
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ on:
     branches:
       - create-pull-request
 
+permissions: write-all
+
 jobs:
   test:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
@@ -17,6 +19,3 @@ jobs:
           helper: create-pr
           title: New PR
           body: Implemented new feature. Added tests.
-          github_token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
-
-permissions: write-all
diff --git a/.github/workflows/create-project-card.yml b/.github/workflows/create-project-card.yml
index 31ab1de63..109b66224 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/create-project-card.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/create-project-card.yml
@@ -12,14 +12,9 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
-        with:
-          ref: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.ref }}
-          repository: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.repo.full_name }}
-          token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
 
       - uses: ./
         with:
           helper: create-project-card
           project_name: Test Project
           project_destination_column_name: Test Column 1
-          github_token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/deployments.yml b/.github/workflows/deployments.yml
index de774a702..9921e4448 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/deployments.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/deployments.yml
@@ -15,10 +15,6 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
-        with:
-          ref: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.ref }}
-          repository: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.repo.full_name }}
-          token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
 
       - uses: ./
         with:
@@ -26,7 +22,6 @@ jobs:
           sha: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.sha }}
           environment: test
           description: PR#${{ github.event.pull_request.number }} has been merged; pipeline in progress...
-          github_token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
 
   set-deployment-status:
     name: Set Deployment Status
@@ -35,10 +30,6 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
-        with:
-          ref: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.ref }}
-          repository: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.repo.full_name }}
-          token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
 
       - uses: ./
         with:
@@ -48,7 +39,6 @@ jobs:
           state: success
           description: Deployment succeeded.
           target_url: https://github.com/${{ github.repository }}/actions/runs/${{ github.run_id }}
-          github_token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
 
   delete-deployment:
     name: Delete Deployment
@@ -57,14 +47,9 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
-        with:
-          ref: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.ref }}
-          repository: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.repo.full_name }}
-          token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
 
       - uses: ./
         with:
           helper: delete-deployment
           sha: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.sha }}
           environment: test
-          github_token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/filter-paths.yml b/.github/workflows/filter-paths.yml
index 4e60d730a..51ba5bf77 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/filter-paths.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/filter-paths.yml
@@ -12,10 +12,6 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
-        with:
-          ref: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.ref }}
-          repository: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.repo.full_name }}
-          token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
 
       - uses: ./
         id: paths
@@ -25,7 +21,6 @@ jobs:
             src
             package.json
             yarn.lock
-          github_token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
 
       - if: steps.paths.outputs.output == 'true'
         run: echo "One of those file paths changed!"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/generate-path-matrix.yml b/.github/workflows/generate-path-matrix.yml
index 3bc9f0a26..3285233af 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/generate-path-matrix.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/generate-path-matrix.yml
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ jobs:
             src/helpers/generate-path-matrix.ts
             package/two
             package/three
-          github_token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
 
     outputs:
       matrix: ${{ steps.path_matrix.outputs.output }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/get-changed-files.yml b/.github/workflows/get-changed-files.yml
index acf6fc0b8..5a4265948 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/get-changed-files.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/get-changed-files.yml
@@ -12,15 +12,10 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
-        with:
-          ref: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.ref }}
-          repository: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.repo.full_name }}
-          token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
 
       - uses: ./
         id: changed
         with:
           helper: get-changed-files
-          github_token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
 
       - run: echo "Changed files are ${{ steps.changed.outputs.output }}"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/manage-merge-queue.yml b/.github/workflows/manage-merge-queue.yml
index 508744684..941131f49 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/manage-merge-queue.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/manage-merge-queue.yml
@@ -15,12 +15,7 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
-        with:
-          ref: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.ref }}
-          repository: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.repo.full_name }}
-          token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
 
       - uses: ./
         with:
           helper: manage-merge-queue
-          github_token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }} # must have repo:write permission
diff --git a/.github/workflows/move-project-card.yml b/.github/workflows/move-project-card.yml
index 7c8aa47a6..15f409952 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/move-project-card.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/move-project-card.yml
@@ -12,10 +12,6 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
-        with:
-          ref: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.ref }}
-          repository: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.repo.full_name }}
-          token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
 
       - uses: ./
         with:
@@ -23,4 +19,3 @@ jobs:
           project_name: Test Project
           project_origin_column_name: Test Column 1
           project_destination_column_name: Test Column 2
-          github_token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/notify-pipeline-complete.yml b/.github/workflows/notify-pipeline-complete.yml
index c41115135..4e12fbd34 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/notify-pipeline-complete.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/notify-pipeline-complete.yml
@@ -12,12 +12,7 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
-        with:
-          ref: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.ref }}
-          repository: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.repo.full_name }}
-          token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
 
       - uses: ./
         with:
           helper: notify-pipeline-complete
-          github_token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/prepare-queued-pr-for-merge.yml b/.github/workflows/prepare-queued-pr-for-merge.yml
index 03e8fdbf2..90bb93bdc 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/prepare-queued-pr-for-merge.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/prepare-queued-pr-for-merge.yml
@@ -16,4 +16,3 @@ jobs:
       - uses: ./
         with:
           helper: prepare-queued-pr-for-merge
-          github_token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }} # must have repo:write permission
diff --git a/.github/workflows/remove-label.yml b/.github/workflows/remove-label.yml
index 60456d7ea..1d600a527 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/remove-label.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/remove-label.yml
@@ -12,13 +12,8 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
-        with:
-          ref: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.ref }}
-          repository: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.repo.full_name }}
-          token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
 
       - uses: ./
         with:
           helper: remove-label
           label: Test Label
-          github_token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/remove-pr-from-merge-queue.yml b/.github/workflows/remove-pr-from-merge-queue.yml
index 379baff6c..3598adae7 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/remove-pr-from-merge-queue.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/remove-pr-from-merge-queue.yml
@@ -12,13 +12,8 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
-        with:
-          ref: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.ref }}
-          repository: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.repo.full_name }}
-          token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
 
       - uses: ./
         with:
           helper: remove-pr-from-merge-queue
           seconds: 3600
-          github_token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/rerun-pr-checks.yml b/.github/workflows/rerun-pr-checks.yml
index 001f9b9c0..2bb4119af 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/rerun-pr-checks.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/rerun-pr-checks.yml
@@ -11,18 +11,12 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
-        with:
-          ref: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.ref }}
-          repository: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.repo.full_name }}
-          token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
 
       - uses: ./
         with:
           helper: rerun-pr-checks
-          github_token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
 
       - uses: ./
         with:
           helper: remove-label
           label: RE-RUN PR CHECKS
-          github_token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/set-commit-status.yml b/.github/workflows/set-commit-status.yml
index 03d883caf..c80245904 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/set-commit-status.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/set-commit-status.yml
@@ -20,4 +20,3 @@ jobs:
           context: Commit Status Test
           state: success
           description: set-commit-status is working!
-          github_token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/set-latest-pipeline-status.yml b/.github/workflows/set-latest-pipeline-status.yml
index e52b4eaab..3373c30ba 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/set-latest-pipeline-status.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/set-latest-pipeline-status.yml
@@ -12,13 +12,8 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
-        with:
-          ref: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.ref }}
-          repository: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.repo.full_name }}
-          token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
 
       - uses: ./
         with:
           helper: set-latest-pipeline-status
           sha: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.sha }}
-          github_token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests.yml b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
index fab01334f..4b7fe665e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
@@ -11,10 +11,6 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
-        with:
-          ref: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.ref }}
-          repository: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.repo.full_name }}
-          token: ${{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN || secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
 
       - name: Validate package.json
         uses: ExpediaGroup/package-json-validator@v1
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 83ee02936..db10901ca 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -8,12 +8,10 @@
 ```yaml
 uses: ExpediaGroup/github-helpers@v1
 with:
-  helper: < HELPER NAME >
-  ...
-  github_token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+  helper: <HELPER NAME>
 ```
 
-The `helper` and `github_token` inputs are required for all helpers. Additional inputs vary by helper. Each helper file in `src/helpers` contains an interface that defines which additional inputs are required or optional. If a required input is ommitted, the helper will throw a descriptive error.
+The `helper` input is required for all helpers, and the `github_token` input defaults to the included workflow token `${{ github.token }}`. Additional inputs vary by helper. Each helper file in `src/helpers` contains an interface that defines which additional inputs are required or optional. If a required input is ommitted, the helper will throw a descriptive error.
 
 ### Example
 Input interface in `src/helpers/set-commit-status.ts`:
@@ -35,7 +33,6 @@ with:
   context: My Context
   state: success
   description: My Description
-  github_token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
 ```
 
 ## Available Helpers
diff --git a/action.yml b/action.yml
index ab211539f..4ff3f9679 100644
--- a/action.yml
+++ b/action.yml
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@ inputs:
     required: true
   github_token:
     description: 'The github token'
-    required: true
+    required: false
+    default: ${{ github.token }}
   body:
     description: 'The comment body'
     required: false
diff --git a/dist/action.yml b/dist/action.yml
index ab211539f..4ff3f9679 100644
--- a/dist/action.yml
+++ b/dist/action.yml
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@ inputs:
     required: true
   github_token:
     description: 'The github token'
-    required: true
+    required: false
+    default: ${{ github.token }}
   body:
     description: 'The comment body'
     required: false
diff --git a/templates/workflow.hbs b/templates/workflow.hbs
index 512886b32..3b0c2bc6d 100644
--- a/templates/workflow.hbs
+++ b/templates/workflow.hbs
@@ -12,12 +12,7 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
-        with:
-          ref: $\{{ github.event.pull_request.head.ref }}
-          repository: $\{{ github.event.pull_request.head.repo.full_name }}
-          token: $\{{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
 
       - uses: ./
         with:
           helper: {{ dashCase helper }}
-          github_token: $\{{ secrets.GH_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}