diff --git a/.github/workflows/security-alert-burndown.lock.yml b/.github/workflows/security-alert-burndown.lock.yml
index 2ea7bc9196..de75327f7b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/security-alert-burndown.lock.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/security-alert-burndown.lock.yml
@@ -556,7 +556,7 @@ jobs:
                   "maxLength": 128
                 },
                 "content_number": {
-                  "issueNumberOrTemporaryId": true
+                  "optionalPositiveInteger": true
                 },
                 "content_type": {
                   "type": "string",
@@ -2183,32 +2183,32 @@ jobs:
           mkdir -p /tmp/gh-aw/safeoutputs/
           find "/tmp/gh-aw/safeoutputs/" -type f -print
           echo "GH_AW_AGENT_OUTPUT=/tmp/gh-aw/safeoutputs/agent_output.json" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
-      - name: Process Safe Outputs
-        id: process_safe_outputs
+      - name: Process Project-Related Safe Outputs
+        id: process_project_safe_outputs
         uses: actions/github-script@ed597411d8f924073f98dfc5c65a23a2325f34cd # v8.0.0
         env:
           GH_AW_AGENT_OUTPUT: ${{ env.GH_AW_AGENT_OUTPUT }}
-          GH_AW_SAFE_OUTPUTS_HANDLER_CONFIG: "{\"create_issue\":{\"assignees\":[\"copilot\"],\"max\":1},\"missing_data\":{},\"missing_tool\":{},\"noop\":{\"max\":1}}"
+          GH_AW_SAFE_OUTPUTS_PROJECT_HANDLER_CONFIG: "{\"create_project_status_update\":{\"max\":1},\"update_project\":{\"max\":100}}"
+          GH_AW_PROJECT_GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GH_AW_PROJECT_GITHUB_TOKEN }}
         with:
-          github-token: ${{ secrets.GH_AW_AGENT_TOKEN || secrets.GH_AW_GITHUB_TOKEN || secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+          github-token: ${{ secrets.GH_AW_PROJECT_GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           script: |
             const { setupGlobals } = require('/opt/gh-aw/actions/setup_globals.cjs');
             setupGlobals(core, github, context, exec, io);
-            const { main } = require('/opt/gh-aw/actions/safe_output_handler_manager.cjs');
+            const { main } = require('/opt/gh-aw/actions/safe_output_project_handler_manager.cjs');
             await main();
-      - name: Process Project-Related Safe Outputs
-        id: process_project_safe_outputs
+      - name: Process Safe Outputs
+        id: process_safe_outputs
         uses: actions/github-script@ed597411d8f924073f98dfc5c65a23a2325f34cd # v8.0.0
         env:
           GH_AW_AGENT_OUTPUT: ${{ env.GH_AW_AGENT_OUTPUT }}
-          GH_AW_TEMPORARY_ID_MAP: ${{ steps.process_safe_outputs.outputs.temporary_id_map }}
-          GH_AW_SAFE_OUTPUTS_PROJECT_HANDLER_CONFIG: "{\"create_project_status_update\":{\"max\":1},\"update_project\":{\"max\":100}}"
-          GH_AW_PROJECT_GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GH_AW_PROJECT_GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+          GH_AW_TEMPORARY_PROJECT_MAP: ${{ steps.process_project_safe_outputs.outputs.temporary_project_map }}
+          GH_AW_SAFE_OUTPUTS_HANDLER_CONFIG: "{\"create_issue\":{\"assignees\":[\"copilot\"],\"max\":1},\"missing_data\":{},\"missing_tool\":{},\"noop\":{\"max\":1}}"
         with:
-          github-token: ${{ secrets.GH_AW_PROJECT_GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+          github-token: ${{ secrets.GH_AW_AGENT_TOKEN || secrets.GH_AW_GITHUB_TOKEN || secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
           script: |
             const { setupGlobals } = require('/opt/gh-aw/actions/setup_globals.cjs');
             setupGlobals(core, github, context, exec, io);
-            const { main } = require('/opt/gh-aw/actions/safe_output_project_handler_manager.cjs');
+            const { main } = require('/opt/gh-aw/actions/safe_output_handler_manager.cjs');
             await main();
 
diff --git a/actions/setup/js/create_issue.cjs b/actions/setup/js/create_issue.cjs
index b55e7bcbd9..5c82a4ea2e 100644
--- a/actions/setup/js/create_issue.cjs
+++ b/actions/setup/js/create_issue.cjs
@@ -1,6 +1,30 @@
 // @ts-check
 /// <reference types="@actions/github-script" />
 
+/**
+ * Module-level storage for issues that need copilot assignment
+ * This is populated by the create_issue handler when GH_AW_ASSIGN_COPILOT is true
+ * and consumed by the handler manager to set the issues_to_assign_copilot output
+ * @type {Array<string>}
+ */
+let issuesToAssignCopilotGlobal = [];
+
+/**
+ * Get the list of issues that need copilot assignment
+ * @returns {Array<string>} Array of "repo:number" strings
+ */
+function getIssuesToAssignCopilot() {
+  return issuesToAssignCopilotGlobal;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Reset the list of issues that need copilot assignment
+ * Used for testing
+ */
+function resetIssuesToAssignCopilot() {
+  issuesToAssignCopilotGlobal = [];
+}
+
 const { sanitizeLabelContent } = require("./sanitize_label_content.cjs");
 const { generateFooter, generateWorkflowIdMarker } = require("./generate_footer.cjs");
 const { getTrackerID } = require("./get_tracker_id.cjs");
@@ -174,6 +198,9 @@ async function main(config = {}) {
   const groupEnabled = config.group === true || config.group === "true";
   const closeOlderIssuesEnabled = config.close_older_issues === true || config.close_older_issues === "true";
 
+  // Check if copilot assignment is enabled
+  const assignCopilot = process.env.GH_AW_ASSIGN_COPILOT === "true";
+
   core.info(`Default target repo: ${defaultTargetRepo}`);
   if (allowedRepos.size > 0) {
     core.info(`Allowed repos: ${Array.from(allowedRepos).join(", ")}`);
@@ -347,6 +374,13 @@ async function main(config = {}) {
       .filter(assignee => assignee)
       .filter((assignee, index, arr) => arr.indexOf(assignee) === index);
 
+    // Check if copilot is in the assignees list
+    const hasCopilot = assignees.includes("copilot");
+
+    // Filter out "copilot" from assignees - it will be assigned separately using GraphQL
+    // Copilot is not a valid GitHub user and must be assigned via the agent assignment API
+    assignees = assignees.filter(assignee => assignee !== "copilot");
+
     let title = createIssueItem.title ? createIssueItem.title.trim() : "";
 
     // Replace temporary ID references in the body using already-created issues
@@ -428,6 +462,12 @@ async function main(config = {}) {
       temporaryIdMap.set(normalizeTemporaryId(temporaryId), { repo: qualifiedItemRepo, number: issue.number });
       core.info(`Stored temporary ID mapping: ${temporaryId} -> ${qualifiedItemRepo}#${issue.number}`);
 
+      // Track issue for copilot assignment if needed
+      if (hasCopilot && assignCopilot) {
+        issuesToAssignCopilotGlobal.push(`${qualifiedItemRepo}:${issue.number}`);
+        core.info(`Queued issue ${qualifiedItemRepo}#${issue.number} for copilot assignment`);
+      }
+
       // Close older issues if enabled
       if (closeOlderIssuesEnabled) {
         if (workflowId) {
@@ -591,4 +631,4 @@ async function main(config = {}) {
   };
 }
 
-module.exports = { main, createParentIssueTemplate, searchForExistingParent, getSubIssueCount };
+module.exports = { main, createParentIssueTemplate, searchForExistingParent, getSubIssueCount, getIssuesToAssignCopilot, resetIssuesToAssignCopilot };
diff --git a/actions/setup/js/safe_output_handler_manager.cjs b/actions/setup/js/safe_output_handler_manager.cjs
index ce9176c1e1..38dbed8f17 100644
--- a/actions/setup/js/safe_output_handler_manager.cjs
+++ b/actions/setup/js/safe_output_handler_manager.cjs
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ const { hasUnresolvedTemporaryIds, replaceTemporaryIdReferences, normalizeTempor
 const { generateMissingInfoSections } = require("./missing_info_formatter.cjs");
 const { setCollectedMissings } = require("./missing_messages_helper.cjs");
 const { writeSafeOutputSummaries } = require("./safe_output_summary.cjs");
+const { getIssuesToAssignCopilot } = require("./create_issue.cjs");
 
 const DEFAULT_AGENTIC_CAMPAIGN_LABEL = "agentic-campaign";
 
@@ -793,6 +794,11 @@ async function main() {
   try {
     core.info("Safe Output Handler Manager starting...");
 
+    // Reset create_issue handler's global state to ensure clean state for this run
+    // This prevents stale data accumulation if the module is reused
+    const { resetIssuesToAssignCopilot } = require("./create_issue.cjs");
+    resetIssuesToAssignCopilot();
+
     // Load configuration
     const config = loadConfig();
     core.debug(`Configuration: ${JSON.stringify(Object.keys(config))}`);
@@ -885,6 +891,16 @@ async function main() {
     // Export processed count for consistency with project handler
     core.setOutput("processed_count", successCount);
 
+    // Export issues that need copilot assignment (if any)
+    const issuesToAssignCopilot = getIssuesToAssignCopilot();
+    if (issuesToAssignCopilot.length > 0) {
+      const issuesToAssignStr = issuesToAssignCopilot.join(",");
+      core.setOutput("issues_to_assign_copilot", issuesToAssignStr);
+      core.info(`Exported ${issuesToAssignCopilot.length} issue(s) for copilot assignment: ${issuesToAssignStr}`);
+    } else {
+      core.setOutput("issues_to_assign_copilot", "");
+    }
+
     core.info("Safe Output Handler Manager completed");
   } catch (error) {
     core.setFailed(`Handler manager failed: ${getErrorMessage(error)}`);