- 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.