State Department Reverts to Times New Roman

WASHINGTON — The State Department is making a change in its official typeface.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has instructed all diplomats to return to Times New Roman for official communications, undoing the previous switch to Calibri initiated by his predecessor.

Two years back, Antony Blinken, Rubio’s predecessor, opted for Calibri, which is wider and has a softer appearance compared to Times New Roman. This change was intended to assist individuals with specific visual impairments, like amblyopia and dyslexia.

Rubio criticized the Calibri transition, claiming it “degraded the quality of the department’s official communications” in a memo he sent, which was later obtained by various agencies.

Times New Roman has been a standard font for the State Department since 2004, moving away from the typewriter-style Courier New. The formal shape of the letters in Times New Roman stands in contrast to the more modern design of Calibri.

On December 9, Rubio reportedly expressed his discontent with the Calibri decision, labeling it “futile” and advocating for a restoration of decorum and professionalism in official documents.

He emphasized that reverting to Times New Roman aligns with the President’s “One Voice for America” directive, reinforcing the department’s obligation to maintain a unified and professional tone in all communications.

The State Department has not yet commented on this change.

At the time of the Calibri switch, the State Department referenced research suggesting that wider typefaces might be more readable for individuals with visual impairments. However, experts remain divided on this issue.

In light of the broader context, Rubio’s administration has also been working to reverse various diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) measures established during the Biden administration, reflecting a significant shift in policy direction.