diff --git a/src/queue/processors.ts b/src/queue/processors.ts
index 31b8ea45ac..a31ebe5749 100644
--- a/src/queue/processors.ts
+++ b/src/queue/processors.ts
@@ -4805,6 +4805,19 @@ async function verifiedGlobalOpenItemCount(
  * as NOT open (excluded from the count), never left as an unverified "counts toward the cap" default, because
  * this count gates an irreversible close (#2479 gate finding, second pass).
  */
+async function isBelowAccountAgeThreshold(
+  env: Env,
+  installationId: number,
+  authorLogin: string,
+  accountAgeThresholdDays: number | null | undefined,
+): Promise<boolean> {
+  if (typeof accountAgeThresholdDays !== "number") return false;
+  const createdAt = await getGithubUserCreatedAt(env, installationId, authorLogin);
+  if (!createdAt) return false;
+  const ageDays = (Date.now() - Date.parse(createdAt)) / (24 * 60 * 60 * 1000);
+  return ageDays < accountAgeThresholdDays;
+}
+
 async function maybeCloseIssueOverContributorCap(
   env: Env,
   args: { installationId: number; repoFullName: string; issue: IssueRecord; settings: RepositorySettings },
@@ -4817,12 +4830,19 @@ async function maybeCloseIssueOverContributorCap(
   const globalCap = resolveGlobalContributorOpenItemCap(env);
   if ((typeof cap !== "number" && globalCap === null) || !authorLogin) return;
 
-  const repoOwner = repoFullName.includes("/") ? repoFullName.slice(0, repoFullName.indexOf("/")) : "";
+  const repoOwner = repoFullName.includes("/")
+    ? repoFullName.slice(0, repoFullName.indexOf("/"))
+    /* v8 ignore next -- defensive: GitHub always uses owner/repo form; empty repoOwner means authorIsOwner is always false */
+    : "";
   const authorIsOwner = authorLogin.toLowerCase() === repoOwner.toLowerCase();
   const authorIsAdmin = parseGitHubLoginList(env.ADMIN_GITHUB_LOGINS).has(authorLogin.toLowerCase());
   const authorIsAutomationBot = isProtectedAutomationAuthor(authorLogin);
   if (authorIsOwner || authorIsAdmin || authorIsAutomationBot) return;
 
+  // Account-age throttle (#2561): mirror the PR-path cap tightening — a below-threshold author gets half
+  // the configured per-repo issue cap (rounded up, minimum 1). Fail-open when created_at cannot be resolved.
+  const isNewAccount = await isBelowAccountAgeThreshold(env, installationId, authorLogin, settings.accountAgeThresholdDays);
+
   // Install-wide check first (#2562): reuses the shared autoCloseExemptLogins list, same as the PR path.
   // verifiedGlobalOpenItemCount live-verifies every OTHER counted item before trusting it toward an
   // irreversible close (#2562 gate-review follow-up), mirroring the per-repo cap's own sibling live-verify.
@@ -4873,6 +4893,11 @@ async function maybeCloseIssueOverContributorCap(
   // cooldown already honor -- see the matching comment on the PR-side per-repo cap in the PR maintenance path.
   if (typeof cap !== "number" || isAutoCloseExempt(authorLogin, settings.autoCloseExemptLogins)) return;
 
+  let effectiveIssueCap = cap;
+  if (isNewAccount) {
+    effectiveIssueCap = Math.max(1, Math.ceil(cap / 2));
+  }
+
   const otherOpenIssues = await listOpenIssues(env, repoFullName);
   const authorLoginLower = authorLogin.toLowerCase();
   const otherAuthorIssueNumbers = otherOpenIssues
@@ -4910,7 +4935,7 @@ async function maybeCloseIssueOverContributorCap(
     .filter((number) => confirmedOpen.has(number))
     .concat(issue.number)
     .sort((a, b) => a - b);
-  const overCapNumbers = new Set(authorOpenIssueNumbers.slice(cap));
+  const overCapNumbers = new Set(authorOpenIssueNumbers.slice(effectiveIssueCap));
   if (overCapNumbers.size === 0) return;
 
   const planned = planAgentMaintenanceActions({
@@ -4923,7 +4948,7 @@ async function maybeCloseIssueOverContributorCap(
     authorIsAdmin,
     authorIsAutomationBot,
     ciState: "unverified",
-    contributorCapMatch: { matched: true, authorLogin, openCount: authorOpenIssueNumbers.length, cap, itemKind: "issues" },
+    contributorCapMatch: { matched: true, authorLogin, openCount: authorOpenIssueNumbers.length, cap: effectiveIssueCap, itemKind: "issues" },
     contributorCapLabel: settings.contributorCapLabel,
     pr: { labels: [] },
   });
@@ -5615,6 +5640,48 @@ async function processGitHubWebhook(
         );
       }
       await persistAdvisory(env, advisory);
+      // Account-age visibility (#2561 issue-path parity): label newly opened issues from below-threshold
+      // accounts when review_state_label autonomy is auto — same contract as the PR maintenance path.
+      if (payload.action === "opened" && installationId && issue.authorLogin) {
+        const repoOwner = payload.repository.full_name.includes("/")
+          ? payload.repository.full_name.slice(0, payload.repository.full_name.indexOf("/"))
+          /* v8 ignore next -- defensive: GitHub webhooks always use owner/repo form; empty repoOwner means authorIsOwner is always false */
+          : "";
+        const authorLogin = issue.authorLogin;
+        const authorIsOwner = authorLogin.toLowerCase() === repoOwner.toLowerCase();
+        const authorIsAdmin = parseGitHubLoginList(env.ADMIN_GITHUB_LOGINS).has(authorLogin.toLowerCase());
+        const authorIsAutomationBot = isProtectedAutomationAuthor(authorLogin);
+        const accountAgeThresholdDays = issueSettings.accountAgeThresholdDays;
+        if (
+          !authorIsOwner &&
+          !authorIsAdmin &&
+          !authorIsAutomationBot &&
+          typeof accountAgeThresholdDays === "number"
+        ) {
+          if (await isBelowAccountAgeThreshold(env, installationId, authorLogin, accountAgeThresholdDays)) {
+            if (resolveAutonomy(issueSettings.autonomy, "review_state_label") === "auto") {
+              const newAccountMode = resolveAgentActionMode({
+                globalPaused: isGlobalAgentPause(env) || (await isGlobalAgentFrozen(env)),
+                agentPaused: issueSettings.agentPaused,
+                agentDryRun: issueSettings.agentDryRun,
+              });
+              const newAccountLabel = issueSettings.newAccountLabel
+                ?? /* v8 ignore next -- settings resolution always supplies new-account before this handler runs */ "new-account";
+              await ensurePullRequestLabel(
+                env,
+                installationId,
+                payload.repository.full_name,
+                issue.number,
+                newAccountLabel,
+                { createMissingLabel: issueSettings.createMissingLabel, mode: newAccountMode },
+              ).catch(
+                /* v8 ignore next -- fail-safe: a label-application failure must never block the rest of the handler */
+                () => undefined,
+              );
+            }
+          }
+        }
+      }
       // Per-contributor open-issue cap (#2270, anti-abuse): the first issue-side auto-close path. Best-effort —
       // a failure here must never affect the advisory/notification handling above or the webhook overall.
       if (payload.action === "opened" && installationId) {
diff --git a/src/types.ts b/src/types.ts
index 7b16e56606..9df17033e0 100644
--- a/src/types.ts
+++ b/src/types.ts
@@ -879,11 +879,10 @@ export type RepositorySettings = {
    *  force -- a `mergeable_state: clean` read is trusted exactly as it is today. Layered like every other
    *  settings field (`.gittensory.yml` `gate.requireFreshRebaseWindow` > DB > `null`). */
   requireFreshRebaseWindowMinutes?: number | null | undefined;
-  /** Account-age throttle (#2561, anti-abuse): a PR from an account younger than this many days gets the
-   *  {@link newAccountLabel} and a tighter effective contributor cap -- friction/visibility, NEVER an
-   *  automatic close on account age alone. `null`/undefined (default) = off, zero behavior change. Never
-   *  fires for the repo owner, admin logins, or automation bots. PR-path only for now -- the issue-path
-   *  enforcement `maybeCloseIssueOverContributorCap` already goes through does not yet read this setting. */
+  /** Account-age throttle (#2561, anti-abuse): an account younger than this many days gets the
+   *  {@link newAccountLabel} and a tighter effective contributor cap — friction/visibility, NEVER an
+   *  automatic close on account age alone. `null`/undefined (default) = off. Never fires for the repo
+   *  owner, admin logins, or automation bots. Applies on both PR and issue contributor-cap paths. */
   accountAgeThresholdDays?: number | null | undefined;
   /** The label applied to a below-threshold-age account's PR (#2561), mirroring {@link blacklistLabel}'s
    *  configurable-with-fallback shape. Always populated by the DB layer (default `"new-account"`); optional so
diff --git a/test/unit/queue.test.ts b/test/unit/queue.test.ts
index 63f3193ec2..b753d091f9 100644
--- a/test/unit/queue.test.ts
+++ b/test/unit/queue.test.ts
@@ -10501,6 +10501,362 @@ describe("queue processors", () => {
     expect(seen.labels).not.toContain("new-account");
   });
 
+  function stubIssueAccountAgeFetch(issueNumber: number, createdAt: string, seen: { labels: string[]; closed: boolean }) {
+    return async (input: RequestInfo | URL, init?: RequestInit) => {
+      const url = input.toString();
+      const method = init?.method ?? "GET";
+      if (url.includes("/access_tokens")) return Response.json({ token: "installation-token" });
+      if (url.includes("/users/")) return Response.json({ login: "newbie", created_at: createdAt });
+      if ((url.endsWith("/issues/60") || url.endsWith("/issues/61")) && method === "GET") return Response.json({ state: "open" });
+      if (url.endsWith(`/issues/${issueNumber}`) && method === "PATCH") {
+        seen.closed = JSON.parse(String(init?.body ?? "{}")).state === "closed";
+        return Response.json({ state: "closed" });
+      }
+      if (url.includes(`/issues/${issueNumber}/labels`) && method === "GET") return Response.json([]);
+      if (url.includes(`/issues/${issueNumber}/labels`) && method === "POST") {
+        seen.labels.push(...((JSON.parse(String(init?.body ?? "{}")).labels ?? []) as string[]));
+        return Response.json([]);
+      }
+      if (url.includes(`/issues/${issueNumber}/comments`) && method === "POST") return Response.json({ id: 1 }, { status: 201 });
+      if (url.endsWith("/labels") && method === "POST") return Response.json({ name: "x" }, { status: 201 });
+      return Response.json({});
+    };
+  }
+
+  it("account-age throttle (#2561 issue path): a below-threshold-age account gets the new-account label AND a tighter effective issue cap", async () => {
+    const env = createTestEnv({ GITHUB_APP_PRIVATE_KEY: await generatePrivateKeyPem() });
+    await upsertInstallation(env, {
+      installation: { id: 123, account: { login: "JSONbored", id: 1, type: "User" }, target_type: "User", repository_selection: "all", permissions: { metadata: "read", issues: "write" }, events: ["issues"] },
+      repositories: [{ name: "gittensory", full_name: "JSONbored/gittensory", private: false, owner: { login: "JSONbored" } }],
+    });
+    await upsertIssueFromGitHub(env, "JSONbored/gittensory", { number: 60, title: "Newbie issue one", state: "open", user: { login: "newbie" }, labels: [], body: "x" });
+    await upsertIssueFromGitHub(env, "JSONbored/gittensory", { number: 61, title: "Newbie issue two", state: "open", user: { login: "newbie" }, labels: [], body: "y" });
+    await upsertRepositorySettings(env, {
+      repoFullName: "JSONbored/gittensory",
+      autonomy: { close: "auto", review_state_label: "auto" },
+      contributorOpenIssueCap: 4,
+      accountAgeThresholdDays: 30,
+    });
+    const seen = { labels: [] as string[], closed: false };
+    vi.stubGlobal("fetch", stubIssueAccountAgeFetch(62, new Date(Date.now() - 2 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000).toISOString(), seen));
+
+    await processJob(env, {
+      type: "github-webhook",
+      deliveryId: "account-age-issue-tighter-cap",
+      eventName: "issues",
+      payload: {
+        action: "opened",
+        installation: { id: 123, account: { login: "JSONbored", id: 1, type: "User" } },
+        repository: { name: "gittensory", full_name: "JSONbored/gittensory", private: false, owner: { login: "JSONbored" } },
+        issue: { number: 62, title: "Newbie's 3rd issue", state: "open", user: { login: "newbie" }, labels: [], body: "x" },
+      },
+    });
+
+    expect(seen.labels).toContain("new-account");
+    expect(seen.closed).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("account-age throttle (#2561 issue path): when accountAgeThresholdDays is off, no user lookup runs", async () => {
+    const env = createTestEnv({ GITHUB_APP_PRIVATE_KEY: await generatePrivateKeyPem() });
+    await upsertInstallation(env, {
+      installation: { id: 123, account: { login: "JSONbored", id: 1, type: "User" }, target_type: "User", repository_selection: "all", permissions: { metadata: "read", issues: "write" }, events: ["issues"] },
+      repositories: [{ name: "gittensory", full_name: "JSONbored/gittensory", private: false, owner: { login: "JSONbored" } }],
+    });
+    await upsertIssueFromGitHub(env, "JSONbored/gittensory", { number: 60, title: "Newbie issue one", state: "open", user: { login: "newbie" }, labels: [], body: "x" });
+    await upsertIssueFromGitHub(env, "JSONbored/gittensory", { number: 61, title: "Newbie issue two", state: "open", user: { login: "newbie" }, labels: [], body: "y" });
+    await upsertRepositorySettings(env, {
+      repoFullName: "JSONbored/gittensory",
+      autonomy: { close: "auto", review_state_label: "auto" },
+      contributorOpenIssueCap: 4,
+    });
+    let accountAgeUsersFetched = false;
+    vi.stubGlobal("fetch", async (input: RequestInfo | URL, init?: RequestInit) => {
+      const url = input.toString();
+      const method = init?.method ?? "GET";
+      if (url.includes("/access_tokens")) return Response.json({ token: "installation-token" });
+      if (url.includes("/users/")) { accountAgeUsersFetched = true; return Response.json({ login: "newbie", created_at: new Date().toISOString() }); }
+      if ((url.endsWith("/issues/60") || url.endsWith("/issues/61")) && method === "GET") return Response.json({ state: "open" });
+      if (url.endsWith("/issues/62") && method === "PATCH") return Response.json({ state: "open" });
+      if (url.includes("/issues/62/comments") && method === "POST") return Response.json({ id: 1 }, { status: 201 });
+      return Response.json({});
+    });
+
+    await processJob(env, {
+      type: "github-webhook",
+      deliveryId: "account-age-issue-off",
+      eventName: "issues",
+      payload: {
+        action: "opened",
+        installation: { id: 123, account: { login: "JSONbored", id: 1, type: "User" } },
+        repository: { name: "gittensory", full_name: "JSONbored/gittensory", private: false, owner: { login: "JSONbored" } },
+        issue: { number: 62, title: "Newbie's 3rd issue", state: "open", user: { login: "newbie" }, labels: [], body: "x" },
+      },
+    });
+
+    expect(accountAgeUsersFetched).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("account-age throttle (#2561 issue path): established account uses the full issue cap (no tightening)", async () => {
+    const env = createTestEnv({ GITHUB_APP_PRIVATE_KEY: await generatePrivateKeyPem() });
+    await upsertInstallation(env, {
+      installation: { id: 123, account: { login: "JSONbored", id: 1, type: "User" }, target_type: "User", repository_selection: "all", permissions: { metadata: "read", issues: "write" }, events: ["issues"] },
+      repositories: [{ name: "gittensory", full_name: "JSONbored/gittensory", private: false, owner: { login: "JSONbored" } }],
+    });
+    await upsertIssueFromGitHub(env, "JSONbored/gittensory", { number: 60, title: "Oldbie issue one", state: "open", user: { login: "oldbie" }, labels: [], body: "x" });
+    await upsertIssueFromGitHub(env, "JSONbored/gittensory", { number: 61, title: "Oldbie issue two", state: "open", user: { login: "oldbie" }, labels: [], body: "y" });
+    await upsertRepositorySettings(env, {
+      repoFullName: "JSONbored/gittensory",
+      autonomy: { close: "auto", review_state_label: "auto" },
+      contributorOpenIssueCap: 4,
+      accountAgeThresholdDays: 30,
+    });
+    const seen = { labels: [] as string[], closed: false };
+    vi.stubGlobal("fetch", stubIssueAccountAgeFetch(62, new Date(Date.now() - 730 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000).toISOString(), seen));
+
+    await processJob(env, {
+      type: "github-webhook",
+      deliveryId: "account-age-issue-established",
+      eventName: "issues",
+      payload: {
+        action: "opened",
+        installation: { id: 123, account: { login: "JSONbored", id: 1, type: "User" } },
+        repository: { name: "gittensory", full_name: "JSONbored/gittensory", private: false, owner: { login: "JSONbored" } },
+        issue: { number: 62, title: "Oldbie's 3rd issue", state: "open", user: { login: "oldbie" }, labels: [], body: "x" },
+      },
+    });
+
+    expect(seen.labels).not.toContain("new-account");
+    expect(seen.closed).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("account-age throttle (#2561 issue path): does not label when review_state_label is not auto", async () => {
+    const env = createTestEnv({ GITHUB_APP_PRIVATE_KEY: await generatePrivateKeyPem() });
+    await upsertInstallation(env, {
+      installation: { id: 123, account: { login: "JSONbored", id: 1, type: "User" }, target_type: "User", repository_selection: "all", permissions: { metadata: "read", issues: "write" }, events: ["issues"] },
+      repositories: [{ name: "gittensory", full_name: "JSONbored/gittensory", private: false, owner: { login: "JSONbored" } }],
+    });
+    await upsertIssueFromGitHub(env, "JSONbored/gittensory", { number: 60, title: "Newbie issue one", state: "open", user: { login: "newbie" }, labels: [], body: "x" });
+    await upsertIssueFromGitHub(env, "JSONbored/gittensory", { number: 61, title: "Newbie issue two", state: "open", user: { login: "newbie" }, labels: [], body: "y" });
+    await upsertRepositorySettings(env, {
+      repoFullName: "JSONbored/gittensory",
+      autonomy: { close: "auto" },
+      contributorOpenIssueCap: 4,
+      accountAgeThresholdDays: 30,
+    });
+    const seen = { labels: [] as string[], closed: false };
+    vi.stubGlobal("fetch", stubIssueAccountAgeFetch(62, new Date(Date.now() - 2 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000).toISOString(), seen));
+
+    await processJob(env, {
+      type: "github-webhook",
+      deliveryId: "account-age-issue-label-not-autonomous",
+      eventName: "issues",
+      payload: {
+        action: "opened",
+        installation: { id: 123, account: { login: "JSONbored", id: 1, type: "User" } },
+        repository: { name: "gittensory", full_name: "JSONbored/gittensory", private: false, owner: { login: "JSONbored" } },
+        issue: { number: 62, title: "Newbie's 3rd issue", state: "open", user: { login: "newbie" }, labels: [], body: "x" },
+      },
+    });
+
+    expect(seen.labels).not.toContain("new-account");
+    expect(seen.closed).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("account-age throttle (#2561 issue path): user lookup failure fail-opens to the full configured cap", async () => {
+    const env = createTestEnv({ GITHUB_APP_PRIVATE_KEY: await generatePrivateKeyPem() });
+    await upsertInstallation(env, {
+      installation: { id: 123, account: { login: "JSONbored", id: 1, type: "User" }, target_type: "User", repository_selection: "all", permissions: { metadata: "read", issues: "write" }, events: ["issues"] },
+      repositories: [{ name: "gittensory", full_name: "JSONbored/gittensory", private: false, owner: { login: "JSONbored" } }],
+    });
+    await upsertIssueFromGitHub(env, "JSONbored/gittensory", { number: 60, title: "Newbie issue one", state: "open", user: { login: "newbie" }, labels: [], body: "x" });
+    await upsertIssueFromGitHub(env, "JSONbored/gittensory", { number: 61, title: "Newbie issue two", state: "open", user: { login: "newbie" }, labels: [], body: "y" });
+    await upsertRepositorySettings(env, {
+      repoFullName: "JSONbored/gittensory",
+      autonomy: { close: "auto", review_state_label: "auto" },
+      contributorOpenIssueCap: 4,
+      accountAgeThresholdDays: 30,
+    });
+    const seen = { closed: false };
+    vi.stubGlobal("fetch", async (input: RequestInfo | URL, init?: RequestInit) => {
+      const url = input.toString();
+      const method = init?.method ?? "GET";
+      if (url.includes("/access_tokens")) return Response.json({ token: "installation-token" });
+      if (url.includes("/users/")) return new Response("not found", { status: 404 });
+      if ((url.endsWith("/issues/60") || url.endsWith("/issues/61")) && method === "GET") return Response.json({ state: "open" });
+      if (url.endsWith("/issues/62") && method === "PATCH") { seen.closed = JSON.parse(String(init?.body ?? "{}")).state === "closed"; return Response.json({ state: "closed" }); }
+      if (url.includes("/issues/62/comments") && method === "POST") return Response.json({ id: 1 }, { status: 201 });
+      return Response.json({});
+    });
+
+    await processJob(env, {
+      type: "github-webhook",
+      deliveryId: "account-age-issue-lookup-fail-open",
+      eventName: "issues",
+      payload: {
+        action: "opened",
+        installation: { id: 123, account: { login: "JSONbored", id: 1, type: "User" } },
+        repository: { name: "gittensory", full_name: "JSONbored/gittensory", private: false, owner: { login: "JSONbored" } },
+        issue: { number: 62, title: "Newbie's 3rd issue", state: "open", user: { login: "newbie" }, labels: [], body: "x" },
+      },
+    });
+
+    expect(seen.closed).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("account-age throttle (#2561 issue path): a configured newAccountLabel is used instead of the default", async () => {
+    const env = createTestEnv({ GITHUB_APP_PRIVATE_KEY: await generatePrivateKeyPem() });
+    await upsertInstallation(env, {
+      installation: { id: 123, account: { login: "JSONbored", id: 1, type: "User" }, target_type: "User", repository_selection: "all", permissions: { metadata: "read", issues: "write" }, events: ["issues"] },
+      repositories: [{ name: "gittensory", full_name: "JSONbored/gittensory", private: false, owner: { login: "JSONbored" } }],
+    });
+    await upsertRepositorySettings(env, {
+      repoFullName: "JSONbored/gittensory",
+      autonomy: { close: "auto", review_state_label: "auto" },
+      accountAgeThresholdDays: 30,
+      newAccountLabel: "custom-new-account-label",
+    });
+    const seen = { labels: [] as string[], closed: false };
+    vi.stubGlobal("fetch", stubIssueAccountAgeFetch(62, new Date(Date.now() - 2 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000).toISOString(), seen));
+
+    await processJob(env, {
+      type: "github-webhook",
+      deliveryId: "account-age-issue-custom-label",
+      eventName: "issues",
+      payload: {
+        action: "opened",
+        installation: { id: 123, account: { login: "JSONbored", id: 1, type: "User" } },
+        repository: { name: "gittensory", full_name: "JSONbored/gittensory", private: false, owner: { login: "JSONbored" } },
+        issue: { number: 62, title: "Newbie's issue", state: "open", user: { login: "newbie" }, labels: [], body: "x" },
+      },
+    });
+
+    expect(seen.labels).toContain("custom-new-account-label");
+    expect(seen.labels).not.toContain("new-account");
+  });
+
+  it("account-age throttle (#2561 issue path): the repo OWNER's own issue is never labeled even on a brand-new account", async () => {
+    const env = createTestEnv({ GITHUB_APP_PRIVATE_KEY: await generatePrivateKeyPem() });
+    await upsertInstallation(env, {
+      installation: { id: 123, account: { login: "JSONbored", id: 1, type: "User" }, target_type: "User", repository_selection: "all", permissions: { metadata: "read", issues: "write" }, events: ["issues"] },
+      repositories: [{ name: "gittensory", full_name: "JSONbored/gittensory", private: false, owner: { login: "JSONbored" } }],
+    });
+    await upsertRepositorySettings(env, {
+      repoFullName: "JSONbored/gittensory",
+      autonomy: { close: "auto", review_state_label: "auto" },
+      accountAgeThresholdDays: 30,
+    });
+    const seen = { labels: [] as string[], closed: false };
+    vi.stubGlobal("fetch", async (input: RequestInfo | URL, init?: RequestInit) => {
+      const url = input.toString();
+      const method = init?.method ?? "GET";
+      if (url.includes("/access_tokens")) return Response.json({ token: "installation-token" });
+      if (url.includes("/users/")) return Response.json({ login: "JSONbored", created_at: new Date().toISOString() });
+      if (url.includes("/issues/70/labels") && method === "GET") return Response.json([]);
+      if (url.includes("/issues/70/labels") && method === "POST") {
+        seen.labels.push(...((JSON.parse(String(init?.body ?? "{}")).labels ?? []) as string[]));
+        return Response.json([]);
+      }
+      return Response.json({});
+    });
+
+    await processJob(env, {
+      type: "github-webhook",
+      deliveryId: "account-age-issue-owner-exempt",
+      eventName: "issues",
+      payload: {
+        action: "opened",
+        installation: { id: 123, account: { login: "JSONbored", id: 1, type: "User" } },
+        repository: { name: "gittensory", full_name: "JSONbored/gittensory", private: false, owner: { login: "JSONbored" } },
+        issue: { number: 70, title: "Owner's own issue", state: "open", user: { login: "JSONbored" }, labels: [], body: "x" },
+      },
+    });
+
+    expect(seen.labels).not.toContain("new-account");
+  });
+
+  it("account-age throttle (#2561 issue path): an ADMIN_GITHUB_LOGINS author is never labeled even on a brand-new account", async () => {
+    const env = createTestEnv({
+      GITHUB_APP_PRIVATE_KEY: await generatePrivateKeyPem(),
+      ADMIN_GITHUB_LOGINS: "fleet-admin",
+    });
+    await upsertInstallation(env, {
+      installation: { id: 123, account: { login: "JSONbored", id: 1, type: "User" }, target_type: "User", repository_selection: "all", permissions: { metadata: "read", issues: "write" }, events: ["issues"] },
+      repositories: [{ name: "gittensory", full_name: "JSONbored/gittensory", private: false, owner: { login: "JSONbored" } }],
+    });
+    await upsertRepositorySettings(env, {
+      repoFullName: "JSONbored/gittensory",
+      autonomy: { close: "auto", review_state_label: "auto" },
+      accountAgeThresholdDays: 30,
+    });
+    const seen = { labels: [] as string[], closed: false };
+    vi.stubGlobal("fetch", async (input: RequestInfo | URL, init?: RequestInit) => {
+      const url = input.toString();
+      const method = init?.method ?? "GET";
+      if (url.includes("/access_tokens")) return Response.json({ token: "installation-token" });
+      if (url.includes("/users/")) return Response.json({ login: "fleet-admin", created_at: new Date().toISOString() });
+      if (url.includes("/issues/71/labels") && method === "GET") return Response.json([]);
+      if (url.includes("/issues/71/labels") && method === "POST") {
+        seen.labels.push(...((JSON.parse(String(init?.body ?? "{}")).labels ?? []) as string[]));
+        return Response.json([]);
+      }
+      return Response.json({});
+    });
+
+    await processJob(env, {
+      type: "github-webhook",
+      deliveryId: "account-age-issue-admin-exempt",
+      eventName: "issues",
+      payload: {
+        action: "opened",
+        installation: { id: 123, account: { login: "JSONbored", id: 1, type: "User" } },
+        repository: { name: "gittensory", full_name: "JSONbored/gittensory", private: false, owner: { login: "JSONbored" } },
+        issue: { number: 71, title: "Admin's issue", state: "open", user: { login: "fleet-admin" }, labels: [], body: "x" },
+      },
+    });
+
+    expect(seen.labels).not.toContain("new-account");
+  });
+
+  it("account-age throttle (#2561 issue path): a protected automation bot author is never labeled even on a brand-new account", async () => {
+    const env = createTestEnv({ GITHUB_APP_PRIVATE_KEY: await generatePrivateKeyPem() });
+    await upsertInstallation(env, {
+      installation: { id: 123, account: { login: "JSONbored", id: 1, type: "User" }, target_type: "User", repository_selection: "all", permissions: { metadata: "read", issues: "write" }, events: ["issues"] },
+      repositories: [{ name: "gittensory", full_name: "JSONbored/gittensory", private: false, owner: { login: "JSONbored" } }],
+    });
+    await upsertRepositorySettings(env, {
+      repoFullName: "JSONbored/gittensory",
+      autonomy: { close: "auto", review_state_label: "auto" },
+      accountAgeThresholdDays: 30,
+    });
+    const seen = { labels: [] as string[], closed: false };
+    vi.stubGlobal("fetch", async (input: RequestInfo | URL, init?: RequestInit) => {
+      const url = input.toString();
+      const method = init?.method ?? "GET";
+      if (url.includes("/access_tokens")) return Response.json({ token: "installation-token" });
+      if (url.includes("/users/")) return Response.json({ login: "dependabot[bot]", created_at: new Date().toISOString() });
+      if (url.includes("/issues/72/labels") && method === "GET") return Response.json([]);
+      if (url.includes("/issues/72/labels") && method === "POST") {
+        seen.labels.push(...((JSON.parse(String(init?.body ?? "{}")).labels ?? []) as string[]));
+        return Response.json([]);
+      }
+      return Response.json({});
+    });
+
+    await processJob(env, {
+      type: "github-webhook",
+      deliveryId: "account-age-issue-bot-exempt",
+      eventName: "issues",
+      payload: {
+        action: "opened",
+        installation: { id: 123, account: { login: "JSONbored", id: 1, type: "User" } },
+        repository: { name: "gittensory", full_name: "JSONbored/gittensory", private: false, owner: { login: "JSONbored" } },
+        issue: { number: 72, title: "Bot issue", state: "open", user: { login: "dependabot[bot]" }, labels: [], body: "x" },
+      },
+    });
+
+    expect(seen.labels).not.toContain("new-account");
+  });
+
   it("contributor open-PR cap (#2270): out-of-order webhook delivery wakes and self-corrects the missed sibling (regression, gate finding on #2479)", async () => {
     // PR56 (the NEWER PR) is delivered BEFORE PR55 exists in the DB — a real possibility under concurrent/
     // retried webhook delivery. At that moment PR56 only sees {54, 56} (2 total, AT the cap of 2, not over),