Rubio mandates return to Times New Roman font, targeting Calibri in latest diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative.

In a significant move, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has mandated the discontinuation of the Calibri font for all diplomatic correspondence, reinstating the traditional Times New Roman font effective Wednesday. This decision marks a departure from changes implemented during the Biden administration, which Rubio characterized as unnecessary and detrimental to the decorum associated with U.S. government documents.

Rubio’s directive, communicated in a cable to U.S. embassies and consulates, emphasizes the role of typography in conveying professionalism and formality within official communications. He argues that the 2023 shift to the more casual sans serif Calibri font was rooted in misguided diversity, equity, and inclusion policies that had been pursued by his predecessor, Antony Blinken. By calling for a return to Times New Roman, which has historically been a standard font in U.S. diplomatic communication, he aims to reinforce the image of seriousness and cohesion in government correspondence.

The Secretary’s cable criticized the previous administration’s font transition as not only ineffective in enhancing accessibility for individuals with disabilities but also as a costly endeavor, estimated at 5,000. However, Rubio did not provide supporting evidence for these claims. Since his appointment in January, Rubio has been actively dismantling Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives across the State Department, aligning with President Donald Trump’s larger directive for a merit-based government approach.

Under Rubio’s stewardship, several offices and initiatives aimed at fostering diversity within the State Department, both domestically and internationally, have been abolished. Furthermore, he has eliminated foreign assistance funding allocated for DEI projects abroad. The Secretary’s stance is clear that while the font change may not rank among the more egregious examples of misallocation of resources associated with DEI, it reflects a broader cosmetic effort that he believes undermined the quality of official correspondence.

According to a separate memo circulated to department employees, the reversion to Times New Roman must be implemented immediately across all official document templates, with specific exceptions made for documents related to international treaties and presidential appointments, which will retain the Courier New 12-point font format.

This decision underscores a renewed focus on traditional standards of professionalism in U.S. diplomatic communications as the Rubio-led State Department seeks to streamline and elevate the department’s overall image on the global stage. The implications of this font change extend beyond aesthetics, reflecting a broader ideological shift within the State Department in the current administration’s approach to governance and communication.