Update Node.js to 24.x

[desrosj]

This is a tracking ticket for the work required to upgrade Core to using Node.js 24.x, which is the version with Active LTS status at the time of creating this ticket.

For reference, the Core Handbook has a ​page documenting the related considerations and changes required when updating Node.js for WordPress and includes a checklist to follow.

Some key dates:

• 20.x reached end-of-life on April 30, 2026.
• 22.x reaches EOL on April 30, 2027
• 24.x transitions to maintenance LTS on April 30, 2027.
• 26.x is Current and transitions to Active LTS in October 2026.
• Starting with version 27, the Node.js project is transitioning from an even/odd versioning practice (even releases only reach LTS status, odd releases are not meant for production use and supported only for 6 months) to an annual one (every release reaches LTS status after a 6 month Current phase).

Previously:

• #59663 - Node.js 20.x (18.x was skipped)
• #56658 - Node.js 16.x (#59187 for bundled themes)
• #52341 - Node.js 14.x (all older branches receiving security updates)
• #45241 - Node.js 10.x

[desrosj]

Related #65432.

This makes the necessary changes to update the versions of Node.js and npm used by WordPress Core.

Trac ticket: Core-65451.

AI assistance: None

This PR resolve Core-65432.

I don't know that this resolves Core-65432. This PR is specifically targeting Core itself and does not make any changes to the respective GitHub Actions workflow files. While the changes required to make sure actions continue to run within the GHA environment are related, they do not necessarily impact each other (the actions/setup-node action installs and configures any version of Node.js the project is using).

Also, do you have plans to wrap this up soon?

I have created Core-65451 to track this effort in Trac/wordpress-develop SVN. There has also been a significant amount of legwork around this already in ​https://github.com/WordPress/gutenberg/issues/72973.

As far as the current status. Upgrading Node.js is currently blocked on the ​Systems Team side.

[desrosj]

To link related discussions, there has been significant effort on the Gutenberg side of things in ​Gutneberg-72973, which included the creation of the ​new handbook page mentioned in this ticket's description.

There is also a ​project board in GitHub.

[desrosj]

This is also blocked by #63013.