diff --git a/.github/workflows/maintenance_bot.yaml b/.github/workflows/maintenance_bot.yaml
index b1f5cac1db20..1daa3898769d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/maintenance_bot.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/maintenance_bot.yaml
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ jobs:
     if: github.repository_owner == 'galaxyproject'
     permissions:
       contents: read
+      issues: write
       pull-requests: write
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     env: