The U.S. Department of State’s official proclamation that it would return to Times New Roman as its default font underscores the point. They shared their firm intention to do so in an internal cable sent to every U.S. diplomatic post on December 9. Secretary Marco Rubio has been at the helm of this transformation. He went so far as to attack the prior administration’s use of Calibri, calling it a “diversity hire” and “wasteful.”
In 2023, the Biden administration adopted Calibri as the official state department font based on recommendations from diversity and disability advocacy groups within the government. Calibri, a contemporary sans-serif typeface, was chosen for its legibility and accessibility attributes. Research suggested that sans-serif fonts, such as Calibri, were generally easier to read for people with various visual disabilities. Because the font lacked any decorative or even sharp angular finials, it became an extremely pragmatic choice for anyone who used it.
Yet, to Secretary Rubio’s administration, Calibri is laidback by the standards of serif typefaces that have seen historic use in bureaucratic contexts, such as Times New Roman. The State Department underlined the role of typography as a generative force in developing the aesthetic that would govern the decorum of American federal documents. Rubio’s administration is under the impression that switching to Times New Roman will reverse the decay of decorum and professionalism.
“To restore decorum and professionalism to the Department’s written work products and abolish yet another wasteful DEIA program, the Department is returning to Times New Roman as its standard typeface,” – cable
The State Department emphasized that this formatting standard furthers implementation of the President’s One Voice for America’s Foreign Relations executive directive. This collective effort will establish a standardized, consistent, and more professional voice that resonates with all of our respective audiences.
As the default font for many Microsoft products, Calibri is still widely used. The State Department’s move to return to Times New Roman marks a shift in their priorities. Under Secretary Antony Blinken described the shift to Calibri as an exciting and inclusive change—a bold new step, even. That doesn’t mean that Rubio, unlike most of his colleagues, isn’t keen to ditch what he deems needless adaptations.