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Secretary of State marco rubio Diplomatic correspondence has been ordered to stop using the Calibri font and return to the more traditional Times New Roman effective Wednesday. biden The administration’s change to a less formal typeface, which he described as useless, confusing, and inconsistent with the dignity of American government documents.
“Typography dictates how official documents are perceived in terms of cohesiveness, professionalism, and formality,” Rubio said in a cable sent Tuesday to all U.S. embassies and consulates abroad.
In it, he said that the change to the sans serif Calibri font in 2023 emerged from misguided diversity, equity, and inclusion policies pursued by his predecessor. Antony BlinkenRubio ordered an immediate return to Times New Roman, one of the standard fonts mandated by the previous administration,
“The switch was promised to reduce accessibility problems for individuals with disabilities,” the cable said, adding that it did not achieve that goal and cost the department $145,000, but provided no evidence.
Since taking over the State Department in January, Rubio has systematically dismantled DEI programs in line with President Donald Trump’s sweeping directives to all federal agencies. The Trump administration says the goal is to return to fully merit-based standards.
Rubio has eliminated offices and initiatives that were created to foster and promote diversity and inclusion Washington And foreign aid funding at foreign embassies and consulates, and for DEI projects abroad, also ended.
“Although the switch to Calibri was not one of the most illegal, unethical, radical or wasteful examples of the department’s DEI, it was nonetheless specious,” according to Rubio’s cable obtained by the Associated Press and first reported by The New York Times.
“The switch to Calibri accomplished nothing except a decline in Department correspondence,” he said, adding that it also clashed with the typeface on State Department letterhead.
The return of Times New Roman will be effective Wednesday and all templates of official documents are to be updated to remove the offensive Calibri font, according to a separate memo sent to department staff.
The memo said the only exceptions are documents drafted for international treaties and presidential appointments, which are required to use the Courier New 12-point font.