diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-citus-community-nightlies.yml b/.github/workflows/build-citus-community-nightlies.yml
index e4773508..02055b31 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-citus-community-nightlies.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-citus-community-nightlies.yml
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ env:
   MAIN_BRANCH: "all-citus"
   PACKAGING_PASSPHRASE: ${{ secrets.PACKAGING_PASSPHRASE }}
   PACKAGING_SECRET_KEY: ${{ secrets.PACKAGING_SECRET_KEY }}
-  GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GH_TOKEN }}
   DOCKERHUB_USER_NAME: ${{ secrets.DOCKERHUB_USER_NAME }}
   DOCKERHUB_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.DOCKERHUB_PASSWORD }}
 on:
@@ -32,9 +31,37 @@ jobs:
           - ubuntu/jammy
 
     steps:
+
+      - name: Create GitHub App token
+        id: app
+        uses: actions/create-github-app-token@v1
+        with:
+          app-id: ${{ vars.GH_APP_ID }}
+          private-key: ${{ secrets.GH_APP_KEY }}
+          owner: ${{ github.repository_owner }}
+
+      - name: Check token format
+        run: |
+          TOKEN="${{ steps.app.outputs.token }}"
+          if [[ "$TOKEN" == ghu_* ]]; then
+              echo "GitHub App installation token"
+          elif [[ "$TOKEN" == eyJ* ]]; then
+              echo "JWT token"
+          elif [[ "$TOKEN" == ghp_* ]]; then
+              echo "Personal Access Token"
+          fi
+          echo "Token preview (first 5 chars): ${TOKEN:0:5}"
+
+      - name: Set GH_TOKEN for all steps
+        run: echo "GH_TOKEN=${{ steps.app.outputs.token }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+
+      - name: Configure git with x-access-token
+        run: git config --global url."https://x-access-token:${{ steps.app.outputs.token }}@github.com/".insteadOf "https://github.com/"
+
       - name: Checkout repository
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
         with:
+          token: ${{ steps.app.outputs.token }}
           fetch-depth: 1
           path: tools
 
@@ -46,7 +73,7 @@ jobs:
           password: ${{ secrets.DOCKERHUB_PASSWORD }}
 
       - name: Clone build branch
-        run: git clone -b "${MAIN_BRANCH}" --depth=1  https://github.com/citusdata/packaging.git packaging
+        run: git clone -b "${MAIN_BRANCH}" --depth=1 https://github.com/citusdata/packaging.git packaging
 
       - name: Install package dependencies
         run: sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install libcurl4-openssl-dev libssl-dev python3-testresources
diff --git a/.github/workflows/citus-package-all-platforms-test.yml b/.github/workflows/citus-package-all-platforms-test.yml
index a7692477..2689fc4b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/citus-package-all-platforms-test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/citus-package-all-platforms-test.yml
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 name: Citus package all platforms tests
 
 env:
-  GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GH_TOKEN }}
-  GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GH_TOKEN }}
   PACKAGING_PASSPHRASE: ${{ secrets.PACKAGING_PASSPHRASE }}
   MICROSOFT_EMAIL: gindibay@microsoft.com
   USER_NAME: Gurkan Indibay
@@ -36,8 +34,27 @@ jobs:
       PLATFORM: ${{ matrix.platform }}
 
     steps:
+      - name: Create GitHub App token
+        id: app
+        uses: actions/create-github-app-token@v1
+        with:
+          app-id: ${{ vars.GH_APP_ID }}
+          private-key: ${{ secrets.GH_APP_KEY }}
+          owner: ${{ github.repository_owner }}
+
+      - name: Set GH_TOKEN for all steps
+        run: |
+          echo "GH_TOKEN=${{ steps.app.outputs.token }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+          echo "GITHUB_TOKEN=${{ steps.app.outputs.token }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+
+      - name: Setup git authentication for GitHub App
+        run: |
+          git config --global url."https://x-access-token:${{ steps.app.outputs.token }}@github.com/".insteadOf "https://github.com/"
+
       - name: Checkout repository
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
+        with:
+          token: ${{ steps.app.outputs.token }}
 
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install libcurl4-openssl-dev libssl-dev python3-testresources
diff --git a/.github/workflows/delete-packagecloud-packages.yml b/.github/workflows/delete-packagecloud-packages.yml
index c9d55c53..de8a8900 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/delete-packagecloud-packages.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/delete-packagecloud-packages.yml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ jobs:
 
     steps:
       - name: Checkout repository
-        uses: actions/checkout@v3
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install libcurl4-openssl-dev libssl-dev python3-testresources
diff --git a/.github/workflows/package-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/package-tests.yml
index 0d401807..c5c8dff1 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/package-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/package-tests.yml
@@ -18,10 +18,12 @@ jobs:
       pg_versions: ${{ steps.generate-postgres.outputs.pg_versions }}
       citus_version: ${{ steps.get-citus-version.outputs.citus_version }}
     steps:
+
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
         with:
           fetch-depth: 2
+
       - name: Package version
         id: get-citus-version
         run: |
@@ -60,8 +62,24 @@ jobs:
       PLATFORM: ${{ matrix.platform }}
 
     steps:
-      - name: Checkout repository
+      - name: Create GitHub App token
+        id: app
+        uses: actions/create-github-app-token@v2
+        with:
+          app-id: ${{ vars.GH_APP_ID }}
+          private-key: ${{ secrets.GH_APP_KEY }}
+          owner: ${{ github.repository_owner }}
+
+      - name: Set GH_TOKEN for all steps
+        run: echo "GH_TOKEN=${{ steps.app.outputs.token }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+
+      - name: Configure git with x-access-token
+        run: git config --global url."https://x-access-token:${{ steps.app.outputs.token }}@github.com/".insteadOf "https://github.com/"
+
+      - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
+        with:
+          token: ${{ steps.app.outputs.token }}
 
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install libcurl4-openssl-dev libssl-dev python3-testresources
diff --git a/.github/workflows/packaging-methods-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/packaging-methods-tests.yml
index 7d53056f..f7030f8c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/packaging-methods-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/packaging-methods-tests.yml
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 name: Packaging helper methods tests
 
-env:
-  GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GH_TOKEN }}
-
 on:
   push:
     branches:
@@ -13,10 +10,25 @@ on:
 jobs:
   unit_test_execution:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-
     steps:
+      - name: Create GitHub App token
+        id: app
+        uses: actions/create-github-app-token@v1
+        with:
+          app-id: ${{ vars.GH_APP_ID }}
+          private-key: ${{ secrets.GH_APP_KEY }}
+          owner: ${{ github.repository_owner }}
+
+      - name: Set GH_TOKEN for all steps
+        run: echo "GH_TOKEN=${{ steps.app.outputs.token }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+
+      - name: Configure git with x-access-token
+        run: git config --global url."https://x-access-token:${{ steps.app.outputs.token }}@github.com/".insteadOf "https://github.com/"
+
       - name: Checkout repository
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
+        with:
+          token: ${{ steps.app.outputs.token }}
 
       - name: Install package dependencies
         run: sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install libcurl4-openssl-dev libssl-dev python3-testresources
diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish-docker-image-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/publish-docker-image-tests.yml
index c14bc3d7..70fd4dbb 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish-docker-image-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish-docker-image-tests.yml
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ on:
 jobs:
   unit_test_execution:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-
     steps:
+
       - name: Checkout repository
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/pypi-statistics-schedule.yml b/.github/workflows/pypi-statistics-schedule.yml
index a8562ddc..d54548d0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pypi-statistics-schedule.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pypi-statistics-schedule.yml
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout repository
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
-
+        
       - name: Install package dependencies
         run: sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install libcurl4-openssl-dev libssl-dev python3-testresources
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/statistic-schedule.yml b/.github/workflows/statistic-schedule.yml
index 3dcb4b22..5aad636a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/statistic-schedule.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/statistic-schedule.yml
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ env:
   DB_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.STATS_DB_PASSWORD }}
   DB_HOST_AND_PORT: ${{ secrets.STATS_DB_HOST_AND_PORT }}
   DB_NAME: ${{ secrets.STATS_DB_NAME }}
-  GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GH_TOKEN }}
 on:
   schedule:
     - cron: "0 16 * * *"
@@ -25,8 +24,24 @@ jobs:
         job_name: [docker_pull_citus, github_clone_citus, homebrew_citus]
 
     steps:
+      - name: Create GitHub App token
+        id: app
+        uses: actions/create-github-app-token@v1
+        with:
+          app-id: ${{ vars.GH_APP_ID }}
+          private-key: ${{ secrets.GH_APP_KEY }}
+          owner: ${{ github.repository_owner }}
+
+      - name: Set GH_TOKEN for all steps
+        run: echo "GH_TOKEN=${{ steps.app.outputs.token }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+
+      - name: Configure git with x-access-token
+        run: git config --global url."https://x-access-token:${{ steps.app.outputs.token }}@github.com/".insteadOf "https://github.com/"
+
       - name: Checkout repository
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
+        with:
+          token: ${{ steps.app.outputs.token }}
 
       - name: Install package dependencies
         run: sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install libcurl4-openssl-dev libssl-dev python3-testresources
diff --git a/.github/workflows/statistic-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/statistic-tests.yml
index 5b9eb9ea..702b1766 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/statistic-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/statistic-tests.yml
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ env:
   DB_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.STATS_DB_PASSWORD }}
   DB_HOST_AND_PORT: ${{ secrets.STATS_DB_HOST_AND_PORT }}
   DB_NAME: ${{ secrets.STATS_DB_NAME }}
-  GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GH_TOKEN }}
   PACKAGE_CLOUD_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.PACKAGE_CLOUD_API_TOKEN }}
   PACKAGE_CLOUD_ADMIN_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.PACKAGE_CLOUD_ADMIN_API_TOKEN }}
 on:
@@ -19,10 +18,26 @@ on:
 jobs:
   unit_test_execution:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-
+    
     steps:
+      - name: Create GitHub App token
+        id: app
+        uses: actions/create-github-app-token@v1
+        with:
+          app-id: ${{ vars.GH_APP_ID }}
+          private-key: ${{ secrets.GH_APP_KEY }}
+          owner: ${{ github.repository_owner }}
+
+      - name: Set GH_TOKEN for all steps
+        run: echo "GH_TOKEN=${{ steps.app.outputs.token }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+
+      - name: Configure git with x-access-token
+        run: git config --global url."https://x-access-token:${{ steps.app.outputs.token }}@github.com/".insteadOf "https://github.com/"
+
       - name: Checkout repository
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
+        with:
+          token: ${{ steps.app.outputs.token }}
 
       - name: Install package dependencies
         run: sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install libcurl4-openssl-dev libssl-dev python3-testresources
diff --git a/.github/workflows/tool-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/tool-tests.yml
index 8759a7d5..89029dda 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tool-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tool-tests.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 name: Tool Tests
 
 env:
-  GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GH_TOKEN }}
   MICROSOFT_EMAIL: gindibay@microsoft.com
   USER_NAME: Gurkan Indibay
   MAIN_BRANCH: all-citus
@@ -20,16 +19,32 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Check out repository
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
+
       - name: Install all scripts
         run: make && sudo make install
 
   unit_test_execution:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-
     steps:
+      
+      - name: Create GitHub App token
+        id: app
+        uses: actions/create-github-app-token@v1
+        with:
+          app-id: ${{ vars.GH_APP_ID }}
+          private-key: ${{ secrets.GH_APP_KEY }}
+          owner: ${{ github.repository_owner }}
+
+      - name: Set GH_TOKEN for all steps
+        run: echo "GH_TOKEN=${{ steps.app.outputs.token }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+
+      - name: Configure git with x-access-token
+        run: git config --global url."https://x-access-token:${{ steps.app.outputs.token }}@github.com/".insteadOf "https://github.com/"
+
       - name: Checkout repository
         uses: actions/checkout@v3
         with:
+          token: ${{ steps.app.outputs.token }}
           fetch-depth: 0
 
       - name: Set up Python 3.10
diff --git a/packaging_automation/common_tool_methods.py b/packaging_automation/common_tool_methods.py
index b4b89d64..91765272 100644
--- a/packaging_automation/common_tool_methods.py
+++ b/packaging_automation/common_tool_methods.py
@@ -677,10 +677,12 @@ def remove_suffix(initial_str: str, suffix: str) -> str:
     return result_str
 
 
-def initialize_env(exec_path: str, project_name: str, checkout_dir: str):
+def initialize_env(exec_path: str, project_name: str, checkout_dir: str, gh_token: str = None):
+    if gh_token is None: 
+        print("GITHUB_TOKEN not found") # Needed for cloning - may fail
     remove_cloned_code(f"{exec_path}/{checkout_dir}")
     if not os.path.exists(checkout_dir):
-        run(f"git clone https://github.com/citusdata/{project_name}.git {checkout_dir}")
+        run(f"git clone https://x-access-token:{gh_token}@github.com/citusdata/{project_name}.git {checkout_dir}")
 
 
 def create_pr(
diff --git a/packaging_automation/tests/test_citus_package.py b/packaging_automation/tests/test_citus_package.py
index 7e62b7ce..80c437cb 100644
--- a/packaging_automation/tests/test_citus_package.py
+++ b/packaging_automation/tests/test_citus_package.py
@@ -87,8 +87,8 @@ def setup_module():
     )
     if not os.path.exists(PACKAGING_EXEC_FOLDER):
         run(
-            f"git clone --branch {packaging_branch_name} https://github.com/citusdata/packaging.git"
-            f" {PACKAGING_EXEC_FOLDER}"
+            f"git clone --branch {packaging_branch_name} https://x-access-token:{GH_TOKEN}@github.com/citusdata/packaging.git "
+            f"{PACKAGING_EXEC_FOLDER}"
         )
 
 
diff --git a/packaging_automation/tests/test_citus_package_utils.py b/packaging_automation/tests/test_citus_package_utils.py
index 064bfcca..4d31aa5a 100644
--- a/packaging_automation/tests/test_citus_package_utils.py
+++ b/packaging_automation/tests/test_citus_package_utils.py
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@
 TEST_GPG_KEY_NAME = "Citus Data <packaging@citusdata.com>"
 TEST_GPG_KEY_PASSPHRASE = "Citus123"
 GH_TOKEN = os.getenv("GH_TOKEN")
-
 PACKAGING_SOURCE_FOLDER = "packaging_test"
 PACKAGING_EXEC_FOLDER = f"{TEST_BASE_PATH}/{PACKAGING_SOURCE_FOLDER}"
 OUTPUT_FOLDER = f"{PACKAGING_EXEC_FOLDER}/packages"
@@ -46,7 +45,7 @@
 def setup_module():
     if not os.path.exists("packaging_test"):
         run(
-            f"git clone --branch all-citus-unit-tests https://github.com/citusdata/packaging.git {PACKAGING_SOURCE_FOLDER}"
+            f"git clone --branch all-citus-unit-tests https://x-access-token:{GH_TOKEN}@github.com/citusdata/packaging.git {PACKAGING_SOURCE_FOLDER}"
         )
 
 
diff --git a/packaging_automation/tests/test_prepare_release.py b/packaging_automation/tests/test_prepare_release.py
index 19a637ba..dc0cc1c9 100644
--- a/packaging_automation/tests/test_prepare_release.py
+++ b/packaging_automation/tests/test_prepare_release.py
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ def initialize_env() -> str:
     test_base_path_major = f"{BASE_PATH}/{uuid.uuid4()}"
     remove_cloned_code(test_base_path_major)
     if not os.path.exists(test_base_path_major):
-        run(f"git clone https://github.com/citusdata/citus.git {test_base_path_major}")
+        run(f"git clone https://x-access-token:{github_token}@github.com/citusdata/citus.git {test_base_path_major}")
     return test_base_path_major