diff --git a/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-cloud-provider/gcp/gce-conformance.yaml b/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-cloud-provider/gcp/gce-conformance.yaml
index b1da2bf67c31..b05f857bddb5 100644
--- a/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-cloud-provider/gcp/gce-conformance.yaml
+++ b/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-cloud-provider/gcp/gce-conformance.yaml
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ periodics:
     preset-k8s-ssh: "true"
   decorate: true
   decoration_config:
-    timeout: 220m
+    timeout: 2h30m
   extra_refs:
   - org: kubernetes
     repo: kubernetes
diff --git a/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-cloud-provider/gcp/gcp-gce.yaml b/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-cloud-provider/gcp/gcp-gce.yaml
index 33542c75b902..6d04bc7bedf6 100644
--- a/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-cloud-provider/gcp/gcp-gce.yaml
+++ b/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-cloud-provider/gcp/gcp-gce.yaml
@@ -1041,7 +1041,7 @@ periodics:
     preset-k8s-ssh: "true"
   decorate: true
   decoration_config:
-    timeout: 200m
+    timeout: 1h20m
   spec:
     containers:
     - command:
@@ -1054,7 +1054,7 @@ periodics:
       - --gcp-region=us-central1
       - --provider=gce
       - --test_args=--ginkgo.focus=\[Feature:Reboot\] --minStartupPods=8
-      - --timeout=180m
+      - --timeout=60m
       image: gcr.io/k8s-staging-test-infra/kubekins-e2e:v20250815-171060767f-master
       resources:
         limits:
diff --git a/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-cloud-provider/gcp/gpu/gpu-gce.yaml b/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-cloud-provider/gcp/gpu/gpu-gce.yaml
index 84318076e8e7..ac97310b4d6c 100644
--- a/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-cloud-provider/gcp/gpu/gpu-gce.yaml
+++ b/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-cloud-provider/gcp/gpu/gpu-gce.yaml
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ periodics:
     testgrid-alert-stale-results-hours: '24'
   decorate: true
   decoration_config:
-    timeout: 300m
+    timeout: 1h20m
   spec:
     containers:
     - command:
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ periodics:
       - --gcp-zone=us-central1-b
       - --provider=gce
       - --test_args=--ginkgo.focus=\[Feature:GPUDevicePlugin\] --minStartupPods=8
-      - --timeout=180m
+      - --timeout=60m
       # TODO: drop this once it's in the defaults
       - --env=LOG_DUMP_SYSTEMD_SERVICES=containerd
       image: gcr.io/k8s-staging-test-infra/kubekins-e2e:v20250815-171060767f-master
diff --git a/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-network/sig-network-kind.yaml b/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-network/sig-network-kind.yaml
index b24ee3ea63c8..0b418d4dcc26 100644
--- a/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-network/sig-network-kind.yaml
+++ b/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-network/sig-network-kind.yaml
@@ -858,7 +858,7 @@ periodics:
     testgrid-tab-name: sig-network-kind, detect-local-interface-name-prefix
     description: Runs network tests using KIND against latest kubernetes master with a kubernetes-in-docker cluster and kube-proxy detectLocalMode=InterfaceNamePrefix
     testgrid-alert-email: antonio.ojea.garcia@gmail.com, widaly@microsoft.com
-- interval: 12h
+- interval: 3h
   name: ci-kubernetes-kind-cloud-provider-loadbalancer
   cluster: k8s-infra-prow-build
   labels:
diff --git a/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-node/crio.yaml b/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-node/crio.yaml
index 21d1c9c9abbc..c3abb3b56eae 100644
--- a/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-node/crio.yaml
+++ b/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-node/crio.yaml
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ periodics:
     preset-k8s-ssh: "true"
   decorate: true
   decoration_config:
-    timeout: 240m
+    timeout: 2h
   extra_refs:
   - org: kubernetes
     repo: kubernetes
@@ -507,7 +507,7 @@ periodics:
     preset-k8s-ssh: "true"
   decorate: true
   decoration_config:
-    timeout: 240m
+    timeout: 1h
   extra_refs:
   - org: kubernetes
     repo: kubernetes
diff --git a/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-node/node-kubelet.yaml b/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-node/node-kubelet.yaml
index 6cc5a636beb8..bfc3a9c40236 100644
--- a/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-node/node-kubelet.yaml
+++ b/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-node/node-kubelet.yaml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 periodics:
 - name: ci-kubernetes-node-e2e-containerd
   cluster: k8s-infra-prow-build
-  interval: 4h
+  interval: 3h
   labels:
     preset-service-account: "true"
     preset-k8s-ssh: "true"
diff --git a/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-release/release-branch-jobs/1.31.yaml b/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-release/release-branch-jobs/1.31.yaml
index 5f707e670332..bb4086b46ba8 100644
--- a/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-release/release-branch-jobs/1.31.yaml
+++ b/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-release/release-branch-jobs/1.31.yaml
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ periodics:
   cluster: k8s-infra-prow-build
   decorate: true
   decoration_config:
-    timeout: 3h40m0s
+    timeout: 2h30m
   extra_refs:
   - base_ref: release-1.31
     org: kubernetes
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ periodics:
   cron: 0 14-23/24 * * *
   decorate: true
   decoration_config:
-    timeout: 5h0m0s
+    timeout: 1h20m
   labels:
     preset-ci-gce-device-plugin-gpu: "true"
     preset-k8s-ssh: "true"
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ periodics:
       - --gcp-zone=us-central1-b
       - --provider=gce
       - --test_args=--ginkgo.focus=\[Feature:GPUDevicePlugin\] --minStartupPods=8
-      - --timeout=180m
+      - --timeout=60m
       - --env=LOG_DUMP_SYSTEMD_SERVICES=containerd
       command:
       - runner.sh
diff --git a/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-release/release-branch-jobs/1.32.yaml b/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-release/release-branch-jobs/1.32.yaml
index 202d17f24d3e..eb21059dde49 100644
--- a/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-release/release-branch-jobs/1.32.yaml
+++ b/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-release/release-branch-jobs/1.32.yaml
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ periodics:
   cluster: k8s-infra-prow-build
   decorate: true
   decoration_config:
-    timeout: 3h40m0s
+    timeout: 2h30m
   extra_refs:
   - base_ref: release-1.32
     org: kubernetes
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ periodics:
   cron: 0 14-23/24 * * *
   decorate: true
   decoration_config:
-    timeout: 5h0m0s
+    timeout: 1h20m
   labels:
     preset-ci-gce-device-plugin-gpu: "true"
     preset-k8s-ssh: "true"
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ periodics:
       - --gcp-zone=us-central1-b
       - --provider=gce
       - --test_args=--ginkgo.focus=\[Feature:GPUDevicePlugin\] --minStartupPods=8
-      - --timeout=180m
+      - --timeout=60m
       - --env=LOG_DUMP_SYSTEMD_SERVICES=containerd
       command:
       - runner.sh
diff --git a/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-release/release-branch-jobs/1.33.yaml b/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-release/release-branch-jobs/1.33.yaml
index 234c5f6d392d..91e50b823ca7 100644
--- a/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-release/release-branch-jobs/1.33.yaml
+++ b/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-release/release-branch-jobs/1.33.yaml
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ periodics:
   cluster: k8s-infra-prow-build
   decorate: true
   decoration_config:
-    timeout: 3h40m0s
+    timeout: 2h30m
   extra_refs:
   - base_ref: release-1.33
     org: kubernetes
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ periodics:
   cron: 0 8-23/24 * * *
   decorate: true
   decoration_config:
-    timeout: 5h0m0s
+    timeout: 1h20m
   labels:
     preset-ci-gce-device-plugin-gpu: "true"
     preset-k8s-ssh: "true"
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ periodics:
       - --gcp-zone=us-central1-b
       - --provider=gce
       - --test_args=--ginkgo.focus=\[Feature:GPUDevicePlugin\] --minStartupPods=8
-      - --timeout=180m
+      - --timeout=60m
       - --env=LOG_DUMP_SYSTEMD_SERVICES=containerd
       command:
       - runner.sh
diff --git a/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-release/release-branch-jobs/1.34.yaml b/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-release/release-branch-jobs/1.34.yaml
index 4ffcad43fe4f..c4c382e72bd8 100644
--- a/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-release/release-branch-jobs/1.34.yaml
+++ b/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-release/release-branch-jobs/1.34.yaml
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ periodics:
   cluster: k8s-infra-prow-build
   decorate: true
   decoration_config:
-    timeout: 3h40m0s
+    timeout: 2h30m
   extra_refs:
   - base_ref: release-1.34
     org: kubernetes
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ periodics:
   cron: 0 8-23/12 * * *
   decorate: true
   decoration_config:
-    timeout: 5h0m0s
+    timeout: 1h20m
   labels:
     preset-ci-gce-device-plugin-gpu: "true"
     preset-k8s-ssh: "true"
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ periodics:
       - --gcp-zone=us-central1-b
       - --provider=gce
       - --test_args=--ginkgo.focus=\[Feature:GPUDevicePlugin\] --minStartupPods=8
-      - --timeout=180m
+      - --timeout=60m
       - --env=LOG_DUMP_SYSTEMD_SERVICES=containerd
       command:
       - runner.sh
@@ -1172,7 +1172,7 @@ periodics:
     org: kubernetes
     path_alias: k8s.io/kubernetes
     repo: kubernetes
-  interval: 6h
+  interval: 3h
   labels:
     preset-dind-enabled: "true"
     preset-service-account: "true"
diff --git a/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-testing/conformance-e2e.yaml b/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-testing/conformance-e2e.yaml
index 59b4b327e30d..b347eafc70d5 100644
--- a/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-testing/conformance-e2e.yaml
+++ b/config/jobs/kubernetes/sig-testing/conformance-e2e.yaml
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ periodics:
 
 - name: ci-kubernetes-conformance-kind-ga-only
   cluster: k8s-infra-prow-build
-  interval: 12h
+  interval: 3h
   decorate: true
   labels:
     preset-dind-enabled: "true"
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ periodics:
     base_ref: master
     path_alias: k8s.io/kubernetes
   decoration_config:
-    timeout: 200m # allow plenty of time for a serial conformance run
+    timeout: 2h30m
   spec:
     containers:
     - image: gcr.io/k8s-staging-test-infra/krte:v20250815-171060767f-master
diff --git a/config/tests/jobs/jobs_test.go b/config/tests/jobs/jobs_test.go
index 2293fc68d8aa..892f6e5c04b0 100644
--- a/config/tests/jobs/jobs_test.go
+++ b/config/tests/jobs/jobs_test.go
@@ -1170,12 +1170,14 @@ func TestClusterName(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	t.Logf("summary: %4d/%4d jobs fail to meet sig-k8s-infra cluster name policy", jobsToFix, len(jobs))
 }
+
 func TestKubernetesReleaseBlockingJobsCIPolicy(t *testing.T) {
 	jobsToFix := 0
-	jobs := allStaticJobs()
-	for _, job := range jobs {
+	numJobs := len(allStaticJobs())
+
+	for _, job := range c.AllPeriodics() {
 		// Only consider Pods that are release-blocking
-		if job.Spec == nil || !isKubernetesReleaseBlocking(job) {
+		if job.Spec == nil || !isKubernetesReleaseBlocking(job.JobBase) {
 			continue
 		}
 		// job Pod must qualify for Guaranteed QoS
@@ -1183,6 +1185,24 @@ func TestKubernetesReleaseBlockingJobsCIPolicy(t *testing.T) {
 		if !isCritical(job.Cluster) {
 			errs = append(errs, fmt.Errorf("must run in cluster: k8s-infra-prow-build or eks-prow-build-cluster, found: %v", job.Cluster))
 		}
+		// Allow some buffer over the 120m target in the release blocking job policy:
+		// "Have the average of 75% percentile duration of all runs for a week finishing in 120 minutes or less"
+		// "Run at least every 3 hours"
+		// https://github.com/kubernetes/sig-release/blob/master/release-blocking-jobs.md
+		if job.DecorationConfig.Timeout.Duration > (time.Hour*2 + time.Minute*30) {
+			errs = append(errs, fmt.Errorf("release-blocking job must have timeout <= 2h30m and nominally run in <=2h, yet timeout is: %v", job.DecorationConfig.Timeout))
+		}
+		// periodics must run with minimum frequency, but this is reduced on older release branches
+		branch := kubernetesBranch(job.ExtraRefs)
+		if branch == "master" || branch == "main" {
+			// TODO: cron ...
+			if job.Interval != "" {
+				interval := job.GetInterval()
+				if interval > (time.Hour * 3) {
+					errs = append(errs, fmt.Errorf("release-blocking job must have interval <= 3h, yet interval is: %v", interval))
+				}
+			}
+		}
 		if len(errs) > 0 {
 			jobsToFix++
 		}
@@ -1190,7 +1210,53 @@ func TestKubernetesReleaseBlockingJobsCIPolicy(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Errorf("%v: %v", job.Name, err)
 		}
 	}
-	t.Logf("summary: %4d/%4d jobs fail to meet kubernetes/kubernetes release-blocking CI policy", jobsToFix, len(jobs))
+
+	for repo, postsubmits := range c.PostsubmitsStatic {
+		for _, job := range postsubmits {
+			// postsubmits triggering against repos other than kubernetes/kubernetes
+			// should not be release-blocking
+			if repo != "kubernetes/kubernetes" {
+				if job.Spec != nil && isKubernetesReleaseBlocking(job.JobBase) {
+					t.Errorf("%v: postsubmit should not be release-blocking when it does not trigger against kubernetes/kubernetes", job)
+				}
+				continue
+			}
+			// only consider release-blocking jobs
+			if job.Spec == nil || !isKubernetesReleaseBlocking(job.JobBase) {
+				continue
+			}
+			// release blocking jobs must follow policy
+			// job Pod must qualify for Guaranteed QoS
+			errs := verifyPodQOSGuaranteed(job.Spec, true)
+			if !isCritical(job.Cluster) {
+				errs = append(errs, fmt.Errorf("must run in cluster: k8s-infra-prow-build or eks-prow-build-cluster, found: %v", job.Cluster))
+			}
+			// Allow some buffer over the 120m target in the release blocking job policy:
+			// "Have the average of 75% percentile duration of all runs for a week finishing in 120 minutes or less"
+			// "Run at least every 3 hours"
+			// https://github.com/kubernetes/sig-release/blob/master/release-blocking-jobs.md
+			if job.DecorationConfig.Timeout.Duration > (time.Hour*2 + time.Minute*30) {
+				errs = append(errs, fmt.Errorf("release-blocking job must have timeout <= 2h30m and nominally run in <=2h, yet timeout is: %v", job.DecorationConfig.Timeout))
+			}
+			if len(errs) > 0 {
+				jobsToFix++
+			}
+			for _, err := range errs {
+				t.Errorf("%v: %v", job.Name, err)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	t.Logf("summary: %4d/%4d jobs fail to meet kubernetes/kubernetes release-blocking CI policy", jobsToFix, numJobs)
+}
+
+func kubernetesBranch(refs []prowapi.Refs) string {
+	for _, ref := range refs {
+		if ref.Org == "kubernetes" && ref.Repo == "kubernetes" {
+			return ref.BaseRef
+		}
+	}
+	return ""
 }
 
 func TestK8sInfraProwBuildJobsCIPolicy(t *testing.T) {