diff --git a/.github/workflows/codeflash-optimize.yaml b/.github/workflows/codeflash-optimize.yaml
index 2e619dd4d..bdfab8c25 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/codeflash-optimize.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/codeflash-optimize.yaml
@@ -29,18 +29,25 @@ jobs:
           fetch-depth: 0
       - name: Validate PR
         run: |
-          # Checking for any workflow changes for security risks
-          if git diff --name-only ${{ github.event.pull_request.base.sha }} ${{ github.sha }} | grep -q "^.github/workflows/"; then
-            echo "Workflow changes detected."
+          # Check for any workflow changes
+          if git diff --name-only "${{ github.event.pull_request.base.sha }}" "${{ github.sha }}" | grep -q "^.github/workflows/"; then
+            echo "⚠️ Workflow changes detected."
 
-            # Check if the PR author is allowed
+            # Get the PR author
             AUTHOR="${{ github.event.pull_request.user.login }}"
-            if [[ "$AUTHOR" != "misrasaurabh1" && "$AUTHOR" != "KRRT7" ]]; then
-              echo "Unauthorized user ($AUTHOR) attempting to modify workflows. Exiting."
-              exit 1
+            echo "PR Author: $AUTHOR"
+
+            # Allowlist check
+            if [[ "$AUTHOR" == "misrasaurabh1" || "$AUTHOR" == "KRRT7" ]]; then
+              echo "✅ Authorized user ($AUTHOR). Proceeding."
+            elif [[ "${{ github.event_name }}" == "pull_request_target" && "${{ github.event.pull_request.state }}" == "open" ]]; then
+              echo "✅ PR triggered by 'pull_request_target' and is open. Assuming protection rules are in place. Proceeding."
             else
-              echo "Authorized user ($AUTHOR). Proceeding."
+              echo "⛔ Unauthorized user ($AUTHOR) attempting to modify workflows. Exiting."
+              exit 1
             fi
+          else
+            echo "✅ No workflow file changes detected. Proceeding."
           fi
 
       - name: 🐍 Set up Python 3.11 for CLI
diff --git a/.github/workflows/end-to-end-test-bubblesort-pytest-no-git.yaml b/.github/workflows/end-to-end-test-bubblesort-pytest-no-git.yaml
index e8fb9947e..ef0dc5149 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/end-to-end-test-bubblesort-pytest-no-git.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/end-to-end-test-bubblesort-pytest-no-git.yaml
@@ -24,18 +24,25 @@ jobs:
           token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
       - name: Validate PR
         run: |
-          # Checking for any workflow changes for security risks
-          if git diff --name-only ${{ github.event.pull_request.base.sha }} ${{ github.sha }} | grep -q "^.github/workflows/"; then
-            echo "Workflow changes detected."
+          # Check for any workflow changes
+          if git diff --name-only "${{ github.event.pull_request.base.sha }}" "${{ github.sha }}" | grep -q "^.github/workflows/"; then
+            echo "⚠️ Workflow changes detected."
 
-            # Check if the PR author is allowed
+            # Get the PR author
             AUTHOR="${{ github.event.pull_request.user.login }}"
-            if [[ "$AUTHOR" != "misrasaurabh1" && "$AUTHOR" != "KRRT7" ]]; then
-              echo "Unauthorized user ($AUTHOR) attempting to modify workflows. Exiting."
-              exit 1
+            echo "PR Author: $AUTHOR"
+
+            # Allowlist check
+            if [[ "$AUTHOR" == "misrasaurabh1" || "$AUTHOR" == "KRRT7" ]]; then
+              echo "✅ Authorized user ($AUTHOR). Proceeding."
+            elif [[ "${{ github.event_name }}" == "pull_request_target" && "${{ github.event.pull_request.state }}" == "open" ]]; then
+              echo "✅ PR triggered by 'pull_request_target' and is open. Assuming protection rules are in place. Proceeding."
             else
-              echo "Authorized user ($AUTHOR). Proceeding."
+              echo "⛔ Unauthorized user ($AUTHOR) attempting to modify workflows. Exiting."
+              exit 1
             fi
+          else
+            echo "✅ No workflow file changes detected. Proceeding."
           fi
 
       - name: Set up Python 3.11 for CLI
diff --git a/.github/workflows/end-to-end-test-bubblesort-unittest.yaml b/.github/workflows/end-to-end-test-bubblesort-unittest.yaml
index d0fd8a8e6..e8c367ee2 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/end-to-end-test-bubblesort-unittest.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/end-to-end-test-bubblesort-unittest.yaml
@@ -24,18 +24,25 @@ jobs:
           token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
       - name: Validate PR
         run: |
-          # Checking for any workflow changes for security risks
-          if git diff --name-only ${{ github.event.pull_request.base.sha }} ${{ github.sha }} | grep -q "^.github/workflows/"; then
-            echo "Workflow changes detected."
+          # Check for any workflow changes
+          if git diff --name-only "${{ github.event.pull_request.base.sha }}" "${{ github.sha }}" | grep -q "^.github/workflows/"; then
+            echo "⚠️ Workflow changes detected."
 
-            # Check if the PR author is allowed
+            # Get the PR author
             AUTHOR="${{ github.event.pull_request.user.login }}"
-            if [[ "$AUTHOR" != "misrasaurabh1" && "$AUTHOR" != "KRRT7" ]]; then
-              echo "Unauthorized user ($AUTHOR) attempting to modify workflows. Exiting."
-              exit 1
+            echo "PR Author: $AUTHOR"
+
+            # Allowlist check
+            if [[ "$AUTHOR" == "misrasaurabh1" || "$AUTHOR" == "KRRT7" ]]; then
+              echo "✅ Authorized user ($AUTHOR). Proceeding."
+            elif [[ "${{ github.event_name }}" == "pull_request_target" && "${{ github.event.pull_request.state }}" == "open" ]]; then
+              echo "✅ PR triggered by 'pull_request_target' and is open. Assuming protection rules are in place. Proceeding."
             else
-              echo "Authorized user ($AUTHOR). Proceeding."
+              echo "⛔ Unauthorized user ($AUTHOR) attempting to modify workflows. Exiting."
+              exit 1
             fi
+          else
+            echo "✅ No workflow file changes detected. Proceeding."
           fi
 
       - name: Set up Python 3.11 for CLI
diff --git a/.github/workflows/end-to-end-test-coverage.yaml b/.github/workflows/end-to-end-test-coverage.yaml
index aeb62787b..5bdbde9e6 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/end-to-end-test-coverage.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/end-to-end-test-coverage.yaml
@@ -22,18 +22,25 @@ jobs:
           token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
       - name: Validate PR
         run: |
-          # Checking for any workflow changes for security risks
-          if git diff --name-only ${{ github.event.pull_request.base.sha }} ${{ github.sha }} | grep -q "^.github/workflows/"; then
-            echo "Workflow changes detected."
+          # Check for any workflow changes
+          if git diff --name-only "${{ github.event.pull_request.base.sha }}" "${{ github.sha }}" | grep -q "^.github/workflows/"; then
+            echo "⚠️ Workflow changes detected."
 
-            # Check if the PR author is allowed
+            # Get the PR author
             AUTHOR="${{ github.event.pull_request.user.login }}"
-            if [[ "$AUTHOR" != "misrasaurabh1" && "$AUTHOR" != "KRRT7" ]]; then
-              echo "Unauthorized user ($AUTHOR) attempting to modify workflows. Exiting."
-              exit 1
+            echo "PR Author: $AUTHOR"
+
+            # Allowlist check
+            if [[ "$AUTHOR" == "misrasaurabh1" || "$AUTHOR" == "KRRT7" ]]; then
+              echo "✅ Authorized user ($AUTHOR). Proceeding."
+            elif [[ "${{ github.event_name }}" == "pull_request_target" && "${{ github.event.pull_request.state }}" == "open" ]]; then
+              echo "✅ PR triggered by 'pull_request_target' and is open. Assuming protection rules are in place. Proceeding."
             else
-              echo "Authorized user ($AUTHOR). Proceeding."
+              echo "⛔ Unauthorized user ($AUTHOR) attempting to modify workflows. Exiting."
+              exit 1
             fi
+          else
+            echo "✅ No workflow file changes detected. Proceeding."
           fi
 
       - name: Set up Python 3.11 for CLI
diff --git a/.github/workflows/end-to-end-test-futurehouse.yaml b/.github/workflows/end-to-end-test-futurehouse.yaml
index 7fb7ea2bc..86b654152 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/end-to-end-test-futurehouse.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/end-to-end-test-futurehouse.yaml
@@ -24,18 +24,25 @@ jobs:
           token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
       - name: Validate PR
         run: |
-          # Checking for any workflow changes for security risks
-          if git diff --name-only ${{ github.event.pull_request.base.sha }} ${{ github.sha }} | grep -q "^.github/workflows/"; then
-            echo "Workflow changes detected."
+          # Check for any workflow changes
+          if git diff --name-only "${{ github.event.pull_request.base.sha }}" "${{ github.sha }}" | grep -q "^.github/workflows/"; then
+            echo "⚠️ Workflow changes detected."
 
-            # Check if the PR author is allowed
+            # Get the PR author
             AUTHOR="${{ github.event.pull_request.user.login }}"
-            if [[ "$AUTHOR" != "misrasaurabh1" && "$AUTHOR" != "KRRT7" ]]; then
-              echo "Unauthorized user ($AUTHOR) attempting to modify workflows. Exiting."
-              exit 1
+            echo "PR Author: $AUTHOR"
+
+            # Allowlist check
+            if [[ "$AUTHOR" == "misrasaurabh1" || "$AUTHOR" == "KRRT7" ]]; then
+              echo "✅ Authorized user ($AUTHOR). Proceeding."
+            elif [[ "${{ github.event_name }}" == "pull_request_target" && "${{ github.event.pull_request.state }}" == "open" ]]; then
+              echo "✅ PR triggered by 'pull_request_target' and is open. Assuming protection rules are in place. Proceeding."
             else
-              echo "Authorized user ($AUTHOR). Proceeding."
+              echo "⛔ Unauthorized user ($AUTHOR) attempting to modify workflows. Exiting."
+              exit 1
             fi
+          else
+            echo "✅ No workflow file changes detected. Proceeding."
           fi
 
       - name: Set up Python 3.11 for CLI
diff --git a/.github/workflows/end-to-end-test-init-optim.yaml b/.github/workflows/end-to-end-test-init-optim.yaml
index 24f563840..9e35d171f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/end-to-end-test-init-optim.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/end-to-end-test-init-optim.yaml
@@ -24,18 +24,25 @@ jobs:
           token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
       - name: Validate PR
         run: |
-          # Checking for any workflow changes for security risks
-          if git diff --name-only ${{ github.event.pull_request.base.sha }} ${{ github.sha }} | grep -q "^.github/workflows/"; then
-            echo "Workflow changes detected."
+          # Check for any workflow changes
+          if git diff --name-only "${{ github.event.pull_request.base.sha }}" "${{ github.sha }}" | grep -q "^.github/workflows/"; then
+            echo "⚠️ Workflow changes detected."
 
-            # Check if the PR author is allowed
+            # Get the PR author
             AUTHOR="${{ github.event.pull_request.user.login }}"
-            if [[ "$AUTHOR" != "misrasaurabh1" && "$AUTHOR" != "KRRT7" ]]; then
-              echo "Unauthorized user ($AUTHOR) attempting to modify workflows. Exiting."
-              exit 1
+            echo "PR Author: $AUTHOR"
+
+            # Allowlist check
+            if [[ "$AUTHOR" == "misrasaurabh1" || "$AUTHOR" == "KRRT7" ]]; then
+              echo "✅ Authorized user ($AUTHOR). Proceeding."
+            elif [[ "${{ github.event_name }}" == "pull_request_target" && "${{ github.event.pull_request.state }}" == "open" ]]; then
+              echo "✅ PR triggered by 'pull_request_target' and is open. Assuming protection rules are in place. Proceeding."
             else
-              echo "Authorized user ($AUTHOR). Proceeding."
+              echo "⛔ Unauthorized user ($AUTHOR) attempting to modify workflows. Exiting."
+              exit 1
             fi
+          else
+            echo "✅ No workflow file changes detected. Proceeding."
           fi
 
       - name: Set up Python 3.11 for CLI
diff --git a/.github/workflows/end-to-end-test-tracer-replay.yaml b/.github/workflows/end-to-end-test-tracer-replay.yaml
index 853e73341..e999b8f32 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/end-to-end-test-tracer-replay.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/end-to-end-test-tracer-replay.yaml
@@ -24,18 +24,25 @@ jobs:
           token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
       - name: Validate PR
         run: |
-          # Checking for any workflow changes for security risks
-          if git diff --name-only ${{ github.event.pull_request.base.sha }} ${{ github.sha }} | grep -q "^.github/workflows/"; then
-            echo "Workflow changes detected."
+          # Check for any workflow changes
+          if git diff --name-only "${{ github.event.pull_request.base.sha }}" "${{ github.sha }}" | grep -q "^.github/workflows/"; then
+            echo "⚠️ Workflow changes detected."
 
-            # Check if the PR author is allowed
+            # Get the PR author
             AUTHOR="${{ github.event.pull_request.user.login }}"
-            if [[ "$AUTHOR" != "misrasaurabh1" && "$AUTHOR" != "KRRT7" ]]; then
-              echo "Unauthorized user ($AUTHOR) attempting to modify workflows. Exiting."
-              exit 1
+            echo "PR Author: $AUTHOR"
+
+            # Allowlist check
+            if [[ "$AUTHOR" == "misrasaurabh1" || "$AUTHOR" == "KRRT7" ]]; then
+              echo "✅ Authorized user ($AUTHOR). Proceeding."
+            elif [[ "${{ github.event_name }}" == "pull_request_target" && "${{ github.event.pull_request.state }}" == "open" ]]; then
+              echo "✅ PR triggered by 'pull_request_target' and is open. Assuming protection rules are in place. Proceeding."
             else
-              echo "Authorized user ($AUTHOR). Proceeding."
+              echo "⛔ Unauthorized user ($AUTHOR) attempting to modify workflows. Exiting."
+              exit 1
             fi
+          else
+            echo "✅ No workflow file changes detected. Proceeding."
           fi
 
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/end-to-end-topological-sort-test.yaml b/.github/workflows/end-to-end-topological-sort-test.yaml
index 6ead46031..e8a1ac519 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/end-to-end-topological-sort-test.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/end-to-end-topological-sort-test.yaml
@@ -22,23 +22,26 @@ jobs:
         with:
           fetch-depth: 0
           token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+
       - name: Validate PR
         run: |
-          # Checking for any workflow changes for security risks
-          if git diff --name-only ${{ github.event.pull_request.base.sha }} ${{ github.sha }} | grep -q "^.github/workflows/"; then
-            echo "Workflow changes detected."
-
-            # Check if the PR author is allowed
+          # Check for any workflow changes
+          if git diff --name-only "${{ github.event.pull_request.base.sha }}" "${{ github.sha }}" | grep -q "^.github/workflows/"; then
+            echo "⚠️ Workflow changes detected."
+            # Get the PR author
             AUTHOR="${{ github.event.pull_request.user.login }}"
-            if [[ "$AUTHOR" != "misrasaurabh1" && "$AUTHOR" != "KRRT7" ]]; then
-              echo "Unauthorized user ($AUTHOR) attempting to modify workflows. Exiting."
-              exit 1
+            echo "PR Author: $AUTHOR"
+            # Allowlist check
+            if [[ "$AUTHOR" == "misrasaurabh1" || "$AUTHOR" == "KRRT7" ]]; then
+              echo "✅ Authorized user ($AUTHOR). Proceeding."
+            elif [[ "${{ github.event_name }}" == "pull_request_target" && "${{ github.event.pull_request.state }}" == "open" ]]; then
+              echo "✅ PR triggered by 'pull_request_target' and is open. Assuming protection rules are in place. Proceeding."
             else
-              echo "Authorized user ($AUTHOR). Proceeding."
+              echo "⛔ Unauthorized user ($AUTHOR) attempting to modify workflows. Exiting."
+              exit 1
             fi
-          fiif git diff --name-only ${{ github.event.pull_request.base.sha }} ${{ github.sha }} | grep -q "end-to-end-topological-sort-test.yaml"; then
-            echo "This workflow file has been modified. Exiting for security."
-            exit 1
+          else
+            echo "✅ No workflow file changes detected. Proceeding."
           fi
 
       - name: Set up Python 3.11 for CLI