Hook paragraph: Rubio’s directive to abandon Calibri and return to Times New Roman for all diplomatic correspondence was announced in a cable to U.S. embassies and consulates on Tuesday, with the change taking effect on Wednesday.
Font Change Order
Marco Rubio, the Secretary of State, has ordered that all U.S. diplomatic communication cease using the Calibri typeface and revert to the traditional Times New Roman. The directive, effective Wednesday, reverses a 2023 shift that had moved the State Department’s official documents to the sans‑serif Calibri font. Rubio’s memo, sent to every U.S. embassy and consulate abroad, cites concerns over the appearance and dignity of government paperwork.
Rationale Behind the Decision
In the cable, Rubio explained that \”Typography shapes how official documents are perceived in terms of cohesion, professionalism and formality.\” He criticized the Calibri font as wasteful, confusing, and unbefitting the dignity of U.S. government documents. The Secretary said the switch had been prompted by \”misguided diversity, equity and inclusion policies\” pursued by former Secretary Antony Blinken. According to Rubio, the new font failed to meet its promised goal of improving accessibility for people with disabilities and cost the department $145,000, though he offered no evidence to substantiate that figure.
Background on Calibri Shift
The 2023 transition to Calibri was presented by the previous administration as a step toward greater accessibility. The State Department’s own cable claimed that the change would mitigate issues for individuals with disabilities. Rubio’s cable, however, states that the shift did not achieve that objective and that it represented a cosmetic alteration rather than a substantive improvement. The cost of the change was reported as $145,000, a figure that Rubio cited without providing supporting documentation.
Rubio’s DEI Program Rollback
Since taking office in January, Rubio has systematically dismantled diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in accordance with President Donald Trump’s directives to federal agencies. Trump’s administration has framed its goal as a return to purely merit‑based standards. Under Rubio, offices and programs designed to promote diversity and inclusion have been abolished in Washington and at overseas embassies and consulates. Additionally, foreign assistance funding earmarked for DEI projects abroad has been terminated.
Rubio’s cable further notes that while switching to Calibri was \”not among the department’s most illegal, immoral, radical or wasteful instances of DEI, it was nonetheless cosmetic.\” He added that the change \”achieved nothing except the degradation of the department’s correspondence\” and that it clashed with the typeface used on the State Department letterhead.
Implementation Details
A separate memo sent to department employees details the procedural steps for the font transition. The memo states that all templates for official documents must be updated to remove Calibri and that Times New Roman will be reinstated starting Wednesday. The only exceptions are documents prepared for international treaties and presidential appointments, which must use Courier New 12‑point font.
Key Takeaways
- Rubio has mandated a return to Times New Roman for all diplomatic correspondence, ending the 2023 Calibri shift.
- The change is framed as a correction of a \”cosmetic\” alteration that did not improve accessibility and cost $145,000.
- The order follows a broader rollback of DEI programs that began when Rubio assumed the State Department in January.
The directive underscores a shift in the State Department’s approach to typography and diversity policy, with implications for the appearance and perceived professionalism of U.S. diplomatic documents worldwide.
