US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has mandated a return to Times New Roman for all official State Department communications, effectively scrapping the previous administration's adoption of the sans-serif Calibri, according to CNN.
Beginning Wednesday, a department representative stated that all papers must utilize 14-point Times New Roman to satisfy the president's "One Voice for America's Foreign Relations directive," asserting the older style is "more formal and professional."
CNN noted that this decision overturns the Biden administration's 2023 initiative to enhance document accessibility. Then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken originally approved the transition to Calibri following guidance from internal disability and diversity groups.
A December 9 cable sent to US diplomatic outposts, cited by Reuters, declared the adjustment was meant to "restore decorum and professionalism to the Department's written work products and abolish yet another wasteful DEIA program."
Typography experts explain that sans-serif fonts like Calibri lack the extending features of Times New Roman, creating a cleaner look that often aids individuals with dyslexia or vision challenges.
While the Americans with Disabilities Act recommends sans-serif formats, the American Psychological Association permits serif options like Times New Roman, recognizing that modern assistive technologies allow users to adjust display settings.
"Serif typefaces remain the standard in courts, legislatures, and across federal agencies where the permanence and authority of the written record are paramount," the spokesperson explained to CNN.
Lucas de Groot, the original designer of the Calibri typeface, expressed astonishment at the reversal on Wednesday.
In an interview with CNN on the program "What We Know," de Groot remarked, "I was a little bit shocked by the news. I think it's hilarious and also a bit of a sad decision. I mean, Calibri was designed to be very well readable on screen in small sizes."
The creator added that he failed to understand why the font has been categorized as "woke."
"I have no idea," de Groot laughed. "I don't know what the woke thing in it is."
He emphasized that his design philosophy prioritized clarity for people suffering from visual impairments.
"Designing a typeface in general is for me always a task to make it as well readable as possible and also to give it a sympathetic voice, a friendly voice," de Groot told CNN. "I think Times is a step back into the past."
This stylistic pivot coincides with President Donald Trump's targeted dismantling of diversity, equity, and inclusion mandates across federal agencies.
In January, Trump executed an order to eliminate "radical and wasteful government DEI programs and preferencing." While the administration has since sidelined staff working on these initiatives and pressured private companies to follow suit, courts have struck down some measures, specifically regarding DEI in schools, CNN reported.
