Secretary of State Marco Rubio has ordered U.S. embassies and consulates to use Times New Roman font for diplomatic communications, reversing the Biden administration’s switch to Calibri.
“Typography shapes how official documents are perceived in terms of cohesion, professionalism and formality,” Rubio said Tuesday in a cable to diplomatic offices.
Rubio added that his predecessor, former Secretary of State Antony Blinken, ordering a switch to Calibri in 2023 “achieved nothing except the degradation of the department’s correspondence.”
The Biden-era switch, Rubio said, stemmed from diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies Blinken pushed during his time heading the State Department. Blinken made the move at the recommendation of internal diversity and disability groups, who…
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has ordered U.S. embassies and consulates to use Times New Roman font for diplomatic communications, reversing the Biden administration’s switch to Calibri.
“Typography shapes how official documents are perceived in terms of cohesion, professionalism and formality,” Rubio said Tuesday in a cable to diplomatic offices.
Rubio added that his predecessor, former Secretary of State Antony Blinken, ordering a switch to Calibri in 2023 “achieved nothing except the degradation of the department’s correspondence.”
The Biden-era switch, Rubio said, stemmed from diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies Blinken pushed during his time heading the State Department. Blinken made the move at the recommendation of internal diversity and disability groups, who argued that Calibri is easier to read for those with dyslexia or worsening eyesight.
Rubio has targeted DEI endeavors since he was sworn in this past January. The former Florida senator abolished offices and initiatives focused on DEI in Washington, D.C., and overseas.
The switch back to Times New Roman takes effect on Wednesday, according to a memo sent to department employees. All templates for official documents will be updated, with the lone exceptions being documents for international treaties and presidential appointments — which are required to use Courier New 12-point font.
The Associated Press contributed.
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