diff --git a/.github/workflows/coding-standards.yml b/.github/workflows/coding-standards.yml
index 8f1e9fe701330..e1526d54913f3 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/coding-standards.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/coding-standards.yml
@@ -14,20 +14,60 @@ on:
       - '3.[89]'
       - '[4-9].[0-9]'
     paths:
-      # Any change to a PHP or JavaScript file should run checks.
-      - '**.js'
-      - '**.php'
-      # These files configure npm. Changes could affect the outcome.
+      - '**'
+      # Documentation, repository metadata, and local environment configuration.
+      - '!**.md'
+      - '!.devcontainer/**'
+      - '!.editorconfig'
+      - '!.env.example'
+      - '!.git-blame-ignore-revs'
+      - '!.gitignore'
+      - '!.mailmap'
+      - '!docker-compose.yml'
+      - '!jsdoc.conf.json'
+      - '!tsconfig.json'
+      - '!typings/**'
+      - '!wp-cli.yml'
+      # File types that PHPCS and JSHint do not inspect.
+      - '!**.crt'
+      - '!**.css'
+      - '!**.dat'
+      - '!**.dist'
+      - '!**.html'
+      - '!**.jpg'
+      - '!**.json'
+      - '!**.map'
+      - '!**.mo'
+      - '!**.neon'
+      - '!**.pem'
+      - '!**.png'
+      - '!**.po'
+      - '!**.scss'
+      - '!**.svg'
+      - '!**.txt'
+      - '!**.webp'
+      - '!**.woff2'
+      - '!**.xml'
+      - '!**.yaml'
+      - '!**.yml'
+      # JavaScript outside the JSHint targets and all tooling are not inspected.
+      - '!tests/e2e/**.js'
+      - '!tests/performance/**.js'
+      - '!tools/**'
+      - '!.eslintrc-jsdoc.js'
+      - '!.prettierrc.js'
+      - '!eslint.config.js'
+      - '!webpack.config.js'
+      # Other workflows do not affect these checks.
+      - '!.github/**'
+      # Re-include configuration and workflow files that affect these checks.
       - 'package*.json'
       - '.npmrc'
       - '.nvmrc'
-      # These files configure Composer. Changes could affect the outcome.
+      - 'Gruntfile.js'
       - 'composer.*'
-      # This file configures JSHint. Changes could affect the outcome.
-      - '.jshintrc'
-      # This file configures PHPCS. Changes could affect the outcome.
+      - '**.jshintrc'
       - 'phpcs.xml.dist'
-      # Confirm any changes to relevant workflow files.
       - '.github/workflows/coding-standards.yml'
       - '.github/workflows/reusable-coding-standards-*.yml'
   workflow_dispatch:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/end-to-end-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/end-to-end-tests.yml
index d91b6512f4b49..5c63cde47a349 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/end-to-end-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/end-to-end-tests.yml
@@ -13,24 +13,37 @@ on:
       - '5.[3-9]'
       - '[6-9].[0-9]'
     paths:
-      # Any change to a PHP, CSS, or JavaScript file should run checks.
-      - '**.css'
-      - '**.js'
-      - '**.php'
-      # These files configure npm and the task runner. Changes could affect the outcome.
-      - 'package*.json'
-      - '.npmrc'
-      - '.nvmrc'
-      - 'Gruntfile.js'
-      - 'webpack.config.js'
+      - '**'
+      # Documentation and repository metadata.
+      - '!**.md'
+      - '!.devcontainer/**'
+      - '!.editorconfig'
+      - '!.git-blame-ignore-revs'
+      - '!.gitignore'
+      - '!.mailmap'
+      - '!typings/**'
+      # Configuration for unrelated checks.
+      - '!.eslintrc-jsdoc.js'
+      - '!.jshintrc'
+      - '!.prettierrc.js'
+      - '!.version-support-*.json'
+      - '!eslint.config.js'
+      - '!jsdoc.conf.json'
+      - '!phpcompat.xml.dist'
+      - '!phpcs.xml.dist'
+      - '!phpstan.neon.dist'
+      - '!phpunit.xml.dist'
+      - '!tsconfig.json'
+      # Other test suites, tools, and workflows do not affect these tests.
+      - '!tests/**'
+      - '!tools/**'
+      - '!.github/**'
+      # Re-include the test, tool, and workflow files used here.
+      - 'tests/e2e/**'
       - 'tools/gutenberg/**'
+      - 'tools/local-env/**'
       - 'tools/vendors/**'
       - 'tools/webpack/**'
-      # These files configure Composer. Changes could affect the outcome.
-      - 'composer.*'
-      # This files affect the e2e tests. Changes could affect the outcome.
-      - 'tests/e2e/**'
-      # Confirm any changes to relevant workflow files.
       - '.github/workflows/end-to-end-tests.yml'
       - '.github/workflows/reusable-end-to-end-tests*.yml'
   workflow_dispatch:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/javascript-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/javascript-tests.yml
index 8b1241038773d..ed38f79aa709b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/javascript-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/javascript-tests.yml
@@ -13,9 +13,52 @@ on:
       - '3.[89]'
       - '[4-9].[0-9]'
     paths:
-      # Any change to a JavaScript file should run tests.
-      - '**.js'
-      # These files configure npm and the task runner. Changes could affect the outcome.
+      - '**'
+      # Documentation, repository metadata, and local environment configuration.
+      - '!**.md'
+      - '!.devcontainer/**'
+      - '!.editorconfig'
+      - '!.env.example'
+      - '!.git-blame-ignore-revs'
+      - '!.gitignore'
+      - '!.mailmap'
+      - '!docker-compose.yml'
+      - '!jsdoc.conf.json'
+      - '!typings/**'
+      - '!wp-cli.yml'
+      # File types that the JavaScript tests do not exercise.
+      - '!**.crt'
+      - '!**.css'
+      - '!**.dat'
+      - '!**.dist'
+      - '!**.html'
+      - '!**.jpg'
+      - '!**.json'
+      - '!**.map'
+      - '!**.mo'
+      - '!**.neon'
+      - '!**.pem'
+      - '!**.php'
+      - '!**.png'
+      - '!**.po'
+      - '!**.scss'
+      - '!**.svg'
+      - '!**.txt'
+      - '!**.webp'
+      - '!**.woff2'
+      - '!**.xml'
+      - '!**.yaml'
+      - '!**.yml'
+      # JavaScript outside the QUnit suite and related tooling is not exercised.
+      - '!tests/e2e/**.js'
+      - '!tests/performance/**.js'
+      - '!tools/**'
+      - '!.eslintrc-jsdoc.js'
+      - '!.prettierrc.js'
+      - '!eslint.config.js'
+      # Other workflows do not affect these tests.
+      - '!.github/**'
+      # Re-include configuration, tests, tools, and workflows used here.
       - 'package*.json'
       - '.npmrc'
       - '.nvmrc'
@@ -24,13 +67,9 @@ on:
       - 'tools/gutenberg/**'
       - 'tools/vendors/**'
       - 'tools/webpack/**'
-      # This file configures ESLint. Changes could affect the outcome.
       - '.eslintignore'
-      # This file configures JSHint. Changes could affect the outcome.
       - '.jshintrc'
-      # Any change to the QUnit directory should run tests.
       - 'tests/qunit/**'
-      # Confirm any changes to relevant workflow files.
       - '.github/workflows/javascript-tests.yml'
       - '.github/workflows/reusable-javascript-tests.yml'
   workflow_dispatch:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/local-docker-environment.yml b/.github/workflows/local-docker-environment.yml
index 856db171726b6..894aeeebd779c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/local-docker-environment.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/local-docker-environment.yml
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ on:
       - 'docker-compose.yml'
       # Any changes to local environment related files
       - 'tools/local-env/**'
+      - 'wp-cli.yml'
       # These files configure npm and the task runner. Changes could affect the outcome.
       - 'package*.json'
       - 'Gruntfile.js'
@@ -41,6 +42,7 @@ on:
       - 'docker-compose.yml'
       # Any changes to local environment related files
       - 'tools/local-env/**'
+      - 'wp-cli.yml'
       # These files configure npm and the task runner. Changes could affect the outcome.
       - 'package*.json'
       - 'Gruntfile.js'
diff --git a/.github/workflows/performance.yml b/.github/workflows/performance.yml
index ef02c51101557..f8f4c146ee38b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/performance.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/performance.yml
@@ -13,24 +13,37 @@ on:
       - '6.[2-9]'
       - '[7-9].[0-9]'
     paths:
-      # Any change to a PHP, CSS, or JavaScript file should run checks.
-      - '**.css'
-      - '**.js'
-      - '**.php'
-      # These files configure npm and the task runner. Changes could affect the outcome.
-      - 'package*.json'
-      - '.npmrc'
-      - '.nvmrc'
-      - 'Gruntfile.js'
-      - 'webpack.config.js'
+      - '**'
+      # Documentation and repository metadata.
+      - '!**.md'
+      - '!.devcontainer/**'
+      - '!.editorconfig'
+      - '!.git-blame-ignore-revs'
+      - '!.gitignore'
+      - '!.mailmap'
+      - '!typings/**'
+      # Configuration for unrelated checks.
+      - '!.eslintrc-jsdoc.js'
+      - '!.jshintrc'
+      - '!.prettierrc.js'
+      - '!.version-support-*.json'
+      - '!eslint.config.js'
+      - '!jsdoc.conf.json'
+      - '!phpcompat.xml.dist'
+      - '!phpcs.xml.dist'
+      - '!phpstan.neon.dist'
+      - '!phpunit.xml.dist'
+      - '!tsconfig.json'
+      # Other test suites, tools, and workflows do not affect these tests.
+      - '!tests/**'
+      - '!tools/**'
+      - '!.github/**'
+      # Re-include the test, tool, and workflow files used here.
+      - 'tests/performance/**'
       - 'tools/gutenberg/**'
+      - 'tools/local-env/**'
       - 'tools/vendors/**'
       - 'tools/webpack/**'
-      # These files configure Composer. Changes could affect the outcome.
-      - 'composer.*'
-      # This files affect the performance tests. Changes could affect the outcome.
-      - 'tests/performance/**'
-      # Confirm any changes to relevant workflow files.
       - '.github/workflows/performance.yml'
       - '.github/workflows/reusable-performance-*.yml'
   workflow_dispatch:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/php-compatibility.yml b/.github/workflows/php-compatibility.yml
index 4bae7e0a381b0..7bb6869fd5a79 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/php-compatibility.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/php-compatibility.yml
@@ -13,13 +13,51 @@ on:
       - '5.[5-9]'
       - '[6-9].[0-9]'
     paths:
-      # This workflow only scans PHP files.
-      - '**.php'
-      # These files configure Composer. Changes could affect the outcome.
+      - '**'
+      # Documentation, repository metadata, and local environment configuration.
+      - '!**.md'
+      - '!.devcontainer/**'
+      - '!.editorconfig'
+      - '!.env.example'
+      - '!.git-blame-ignore-revs'
+      - '!.gitignore'
+      - '!.jshintrc'
+      - '!.mailmap'
+      - '!docker-compose.yml'
+      - '!jsdoc.conf.json'
+      - '!typings/**'
+      - '!wp-cli.yml'
+      # File types that the PHP compatibility scan does not inspect.
+      - '!**.crt'
+      - '!**.css'
+      - '!**.dat'
+      - '!**.dist'
+      - '!**.html'
+      - '!**.jpg'
+      - '!**.js'
+      - '!**.json'
+      - '!**.map'
+      - '!**.mo'
+      - '!**.neon'
+      - '!**.pem'
+      - '!**.png'
+      - '!**.po'
+      - '!**.scss'
+      - '!**.svg'
+      - '!**.txt'
+      - '!**.webp'
+      - '!**.woff2'
+      - '!**.xml'
+      - '!**.yaml'
+      - '!**.yml'
+      # Only source PHP files are scanned.
+      - '!*.php'
+      - '!tests/**'
+      - '!tools/**'
+      - '!.github/**'
+      # Re-include configuration and workflow files that affect the scan.
       - 'composer.*'
-      # This file configures PHP compatibility scanning. Changes could affect the outcome.
       - 'phpcompat.xml.dist'
-      # Confirm any changes to relevant workflow files.
       - '.github/workflows/php-compatibility.yml'
       - '.github/workflows/reusable-php-compatibility.yml'
   workflow_dispatch:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/phpunit-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/phpunit-tests.yml
index 45e1439c9b604..aea51a37d3cdb 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/phpunit-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/phpunit-tests.yml
@@ -12,26 +12,39 @@ on:
       - '3.[7-9]'
       - '[4-9].[0-9]'
     paths:
-      # Any change to a PHP, CSS, JavaScript, JSON, HTML, or otherwise tested file should run checks.
-      - '**.css'
-      - '**.html'
-      - '**.js'
-      - '**.json'
-      - '**.php'
+      - '**'
+      # Documentation and repository metadata.
+      - '!**.md'
+      - '!.devcontainer/**'
+      - '!.editorconfig'
+      - '!.git-blame-ignore-revs'
+      - '!.gitignore'
+      - '!.mailmap'
+      - '!typings/**'
+      # Configuration for unrelated checks.
+      - '!.eslintrc-jsdoc.js'
+      - '!.jshintrc'
+      - '!.prettierrc.js'
+      - '!.version-support-*.json'
+      - '!eslint.config.js'
+      - '!jsdoc.conf.json'
+      - '!phpcompat.xml.dist'
+      - '!phpcs.xml.dist'
+      - '!phpstan.neon.dist'
+      - '!phpunit.xml.dist'
+      - '!tsconfig.json'
+      - '!webpack.config.js'
+      # Other test suites, tools, and workflows do not affect these tests.
+      - '!tests/**'
+      - '!tools/**'
+      - '!.github/**'
+      # Re-include documentation, tests, tools, and workflows used here.
+      - 'SECURITY.md'
       - 'src/license.txt'
-      - 'src/SECURITY.md'
-      # These files configure npm and the task runner. Changes could affect the outcome.
-      - 'package*.json'
-      - '.npmrc'
-      - '.nvmrc'
-      - 'Gruntfile.js'
-      # These files configure Composer. Changes could affect the outcome.
-      - 'composer.*'
-      # These files affect the phpunit tests. Changes could affect the outcome.
       - 'tests/phpunit/**'
-      - 'tests/phpunit/multisite.xml'
+      - 'tools/gutenberg/**'
+      - 'tools/local-env/**'
       - 'phpunit.xml.dist'
-      # Confirm any changes to relevant workflow files.
       - '.github/workflows/phpunit-tests.yml'
       - '.github/workflows/reusable-phpunit-tests-*.yml'
       - '.github/workflows/reusable-prepare-gutenberg.yml'
diff --git a/.github/workflows/test-build-processes.yml b/.github/workflows/test-build-processes.yml
index cd32d99cacb1f..bfabbb855ef18 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test-build-processes.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test-build-processes.yml
@@ -12,23 +12,38 @@ on:
       - '3.[7-9]'
       - '[4-9].[0-9]'
     paths:
-      # Any change to a PHP, CSS, JavaScript, or JSON file should run checks.
-      - '**.css'
-      - '**.js'
-      - '**.json'
-      - '**.php'
-      # These files configure npm and the task runner. Changes could affect the outcome.
-      - 'package*.json'
-      - '.npmrc'
-      - '.nvmrc'
-      - 'Gruntfile.js'
-      - 'webpack.config.js'
+      - '**'
+      # Documentation, repository metadata, and local environment configuration.
+      - '!**.md'
+      - '!.devcontainer/**'
+      - '!.editorconfig'
+      - '!.env.example'
+      - '!.git-blame-ignore-revs'
+      - '!.gitignore'
+      - '!.mailmap'
+      - '!docker-compose.yml'
+      - '!typings/**'
+      - '!wp-cli.yml'
+      # Configuration for unrelated checks.
+      - '!.eslintrc-jsdoc.js'
+      - '!.jshintrc'
+      - '!.prettierrc.js'
+      - '!.version-support-*.json'
+      - '!eslint.config.js'
+      - '!jsdoc.conf.json'
+      - '!phpcompat.xml.dist'
+      - '!phpcs.xml.dist'
+      - '!phpstan.neon.dist'
+      - '!phpunit.xml.dist'
+      - '!tsconfig.json'
+      # Tests, unrelated tools, and other workflows do not affect the build.
+      - '!tests/**'
+      - '!tools/**'
+      - '!.github/**'
+      # Re-include the tools and workflows used by the build.
       - 'tools/gutenberg/**'
       - 'tools/vendors/**'
       - 'tools/webpack/**'
-      # These files configure Composer. Changes could affect the outcome.
-      - 'composer.*'
-      # Confirm any changes to relevant workflow files.
       - '.github/workflows/test-build-processes.yml'
       - '.github/workflows/reusable-test-core-build-process.yml'
   workflow_dispatch:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/upgrade-develop-testing.yml b/.github/workflows/upgrade-develop-testing.yml
index eb0c4ac3fdedc..5911999c7cb54 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/upgrade-develop-testing.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/upgrade-develop-testing.yml
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ on:
     paths:
       # Any change to a source PHP file should run checks.
       - 'src/**.php'
+      - '*.php' # PHP files in the root, like wp-config-sample.php.
       # Confirm any changes to relevant workflow files.
       - '.github/workflows/upgrade-develop-testing.yml'
       - '.github/workflows/reusable-upgrade-testing.yml'
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@ on:
     paths:
       # Any change to a source PHP file should run checks.
       - 'src/**.php'
+      - '*.php' # PHP files in the root, like wp-config-sample.php.
       # Confirm any changes to relevant workflow files.
       - '.github/workflows/upgrade-develop-testing.yml'
       - '.github/workflows/reusable-upgrade-testing.yml'