In a move that has drawn comparisons to satirical news, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has reportedly banned the Calibri font from official State Department documents, mandating a switch to Times New Roman. The decision, revealed by the New York Times after obtaining a leaked memo, appears to target Calibri for its perceived association with diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEI) initiatives.
Calibri, a sans-serif font, was adopted by the department in 2023 during the Biden administration. It was specifically chosen by the then-DEI office—an office that has since been disbanded under Rubio amid broader anti-DEI directives. The primary rationale for selecting Calibri was to enhance document readability for individuals with visual impairments and conditions like dyslexia. Sans-serif fonts, characterized by their clean lines and lack of decorative flourishes, are generally considered more accessible, though research on the exact impact of serifs on readability remains inconclusive.
Rubio’s memo designates Times New Roman as the new official font, asserting that the change will "restore decorum and professionalism" to official correspondence. While Rubio conceded in the memo that Calibri was not the "most illegal, immoral, radical or wasteful" example of DEI, he nonetheless criticized the font for contributing to "the degradation" of the State Department’s official communications.
The ban has sparked discussion, with some observers noting the irony given that Times New Roman is considered an "old-timey" font; even the New York Times itself discontinued its use almost two decades ago. Font preferences often evoke strong opinions, akin to rivalries in sports, and the initial adoption of Calibri in 2023 reportedly generated internal "rumblings" within the department.
The State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the font change.
