The United States Department of State has reversed its 2023 policy of adopting the sans-serif Calibri typeface for all formal documents, opting instead for Times New Roman, according to a report from The New York Times. A memorandum acquired by the newspaper, entitled 'Return to Tradition: Times New Roman 14-Point Font Required for All Department Paper,' presents the shift as a step toward restoring professionalism within the agency, as articulated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
In the document, Rubio criticizes the move to Calibri, stating it solely undermined the quality of the department's formal writings. He describes the font as overly casual and incompatible with the official stationery, contrasting it with serif typefaces such as Times New Roman, which evoke a sense of heritage, decorum, and solemnity.
The initial adoption of Calibri by former Secretary of State Antony Blinken occurred in 2023, aimed at enhancing the readability of government documents for those relying on support tools. The smooth, unadorned strokes of sans-serif designs integrate more effectively with screen-reading software and voice synthesis programs. In contrast, serif styles are commonly employed in print media like periodicals to ensure clarity in compact text formats.
Rubio acknowledges in the memo that the Calibri selection did not rank among the department's most egregious, unethical, extreme, or extravagant diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility efforts. Nevertheless, his remarks suggest he associates the font decision with such programs broadly. Eliminating it represents a straightforward, if somewhat trivial, action aligning with the incoming Trump administration's opposition to DEI policies across various domains.