State Department Font Wars: Trump Team Calls Calibri a ‘Wasteful DEIA Move,’ Brings Back Times New Roman
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has ordered the State Department to abandon the Calibri typeface in favor of Times New Roman in all official diplomatic communications, confirming a symbolic policy reversal that matters for government presentation and internal culture.
The move instantly raises conflict over accessibility and inclusion, as Calibri had been adopted in 2023 under then-Secretary Antony Blinken to improve readability for people with visual impairments and those using assistive technologies.
According to multiple reports, a December 9 internal cable sent to U.S. embassies and consulates framed the earlier font change as part of a “wasteful DEIA program” and said Times New Roman conveys the professionalism and formality that diplomatic correspondence requires.
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This font switch comes amid broader debates inside the department, with critics warning that sans-serif choices like Calibri can better support readers with certain visual disabilities — an argument accessibility advocates have made for years.
“To restore decorum and professionalism to the Department’s written work products the Department is returning to Times New Roman as its standard typeface,” the cable stated, according to sources.
For the Trump administration, the decision matters as part of its larger effort to roll back diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility initiatives it views as unnecessary or counterproductive.
Opponents point to the potential impact on accessibility and the message it sends about the State Department’s priorities. Supporters argue tradition and uniformity across diplomatic cables justifies the shift.
What happens next is whether this change will affect other agencies’ formatting policies and whether accessibility groups will push back publicly. Official templates and guidance are expected to be updated immediately.
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