US State Department Returns to Times New Roman Font Under Rubio's Leadership
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has directed the State Department to abandon the Calibri typeface and return to Times New Roman for all official documents, reversing a policy implemented during the previous Biden administration.
The directive, issued via cable to US diplomats on Wednesday, stated the change aims to "restore decorum and professionalism to the Department's written work products and abolish yet another wasteful DEIA program," according to Reuters reports.
Background to the Font Debate
The Biden administration had adopted Calibri in 2023, arguing the sans serif typeface offered improved accessibility for individuals with visual disabilities. The cleaner design, without decorative features, was considered easier to read for people with dyslexia or vision impairments.
Lucas de Groot, creator of the Calibri typeface, defended his design's merits. "Calibri was specifically designed to enhance readability on modern computer screens and was selected by Microsoft in 2007 to replace Times New Roman as the default font in the Office suite," he told The Independent.
De Groot noted that Calibri "performs exceptionally well at small sizes and on standard office monitors, whereas serif fonts like Times New Roman tend to appear more distorted."
Diplomatic and Professional Considerations
State Department officials justify the return to Times New Roman as aligning with President Trump's "One Voice for America's Foreign Relations" directive. They describe the serif font as "more formal and professional," noting its established use by the White House, Supreme Court, and other government entities.
The change has reportedly affected morale among diplomatic staff, adding to concerns about broader departmental reforms under Rubio's leadership. Some career diplomats had previously complained about the Biden administration's font size increase from 14-point to 15-point, which required additional keystrokes.
Broader Policy Context
The font reversal forms part of the Trump administration's broader effort to eliminate what it characterises as "woke" and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies across federal government. In January, President Trump signed an executive order targeting "radical and wasteful government DEI programmes."
Federal employees working on DEI initiatives have reportedly been placed on leave, with agencies instructed to wind down such programmes. However, some court challenges to these policies have succeeded, particularly regarding attempts to curb DEI programmes in educational institutions.
The typeface debate, while seemingly minor, reflects deeper tensions over administrative priorities and the role of accessibility considerations in government operations. Traditional serif fonts remain associated with formality and ceremony, whilst modern sans serif designs prioritise digital readability and inclusivity.