- US
diplomats must switch back to Times New Roman. - Secretary
Marco Rubio criticized Calibri use. - Called
Biden’s change a “wasteful” move.
In 2023, the department under Rubio’s predecessor Antony
Blinken moved to Calibri, arguing that the contemporary sans-serif typeface was
more accessible for individuals with disabilities because it was the default in
Microsoft products and lacked the decorative angular characteristics.
However, a state department cable dated December 9 that was
distributed to all US diplomatic posts stated that Calibri is more casual than
serif typefaces and that typography affects the professionalism of an official
document.
“To restore decorum and professionalism to the
Department’s written work products and abolish yet another wasteful DEIA
program, the Department is returning to Times New Roman as its standard
typeface,”
the cable said.
“This formatting standard aligns with the President’s One
Voice for America’s Foreign Relations directive, underscoring the Department’s
responsibility to present a unified, professional voice in all communications,”
it added.
According to US media sources, diversity and disability
organizations inside the US government suggested
the switch to Calibri in 2023. According to some research, people with specific
visual impairments may find it simpler to read sans-serif styles like Calibri.
Reuters’ request for comment was not immediately answered by
the state department.
Trump swiftly eliminated federal DEI (diversity, equity, and
inclusion) programs and discouraged them in the private sector and in education
after taking office in January. He did this by ordering the termination of
diversity officers at federal agencies and withdrawing grant funding for a
variety of initiatives.
Following nationwide demonstrations against police killings
of unarmed Black people in 2020, which sparked a conservative backlash, DEI
policies spread. Trump and other opponents of diversity programs claim that
they have undermined merit-based decision-making and discriminate against white
people and men. Advocates of DEI policies claim that they act as a check on the
prejudices that subtly persist in so-called merit-based and colorblind
societies.
How will this font change affect accessibility for disabled
readers>
Switching from Calibri (sans- serif) back to Times New
Roman( serif) may reduce readability for some impaired compendiums ,
particularly those with dyslexia or low vision, as sans- serif sources like
Calibri generally offer cleaner letter distinction and lower visual
clutter.
Sans- serif sources reduce eye strain by avoiding serifs
that can blur at lower sizes or during screen exaggeration, abetting dyslexic
druggies who profit from open orifices and harmonious stroke extents in
Calibri; Times New Roman’s finer details could complicate letter blending or
tracking issues.
State Department documents use size 14 (above WCAG minima),
left alignment and standard distance, which neutralize some enterprises, though
experts recommend sans- serif for optimal availability per guidelines like
1.4.12 on textbook distance.
