diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 653d3d2..88bfd70 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@ on:
     branches:
       - main
 
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+
 jobs:
   # Job for linting, type checking, unit testing
   build-and-test:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 50ccb6a..991b661 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ jobs:
       # Step 7: Commit and push version changes
       - name: Commit and push version changes
         env:
-          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.PAT_GITHUB_TOKEN }}
         run: |
           git config user.name "GitHub Actions"
           git config user.email "actions@github.com"