Marco Rubio Bans Calibri Font at State Department Over DEI Concerns

The Calibri font has become the latest casualty of the Trump administration’s broader rollback of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility initiatives. In a move that many observers say sounds like satire, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has ordered the State Department to stop using Calibri and return to Times New Roman for official documents.

According to a leaked internal memo obtained by The New York Times, Rubio directed diplomats and staff to adopt Times New Roman as the department’s official typeface. The decision has already drawn comparisons to parody headlines and is expected to become fodder for late-night comedy shows such as Saturday Night Live or South Park.

Calibri, a sans-serif font, was introduced at the State Department in 2023 during the Biden administration. The font was selected by the department’s then-DEI office, which was dismantled by Rubio as part of the Trump administration’s anti-DEI policies.

At the time, Calibri was chosen to improve readability, particularly for individuals with visual impairments. Sans-serif fonts, which lack decorative strokes at the ends of letters, are often considered easier to read due to their cleaner appearance and slightly wider spacing. These features can benefit people with dyslexia or low vision, although studies remain inconclusive on how much serif design alone affects readability.

In his memo, Rubio declared Times New Roman the official font of his tenure, arguing that it would “restore decorum and professionalism” to State Department correspondence. While he acknowledged that Calibri was not the “most illegal, immoral, radical or wasteful” example of DEI policies, in his view, he still criticised the font for contributing to the “degradation” of official communications.

Opinions about Calibri are divided across political and professional lines. An informal survey of technology writers suggests that many people dislike the font regardless of ideology, though critics say Rubio’s language was unusually severe for a design choice.

The New York Times also reported that the adoption of Calibri in 2023 sparked internal debate within the department. Font preferences often provoke strong reactions, much like sports rivalries, with individuals holding firm loyalties and opinions.

While Calibri declined to comment on allegations that it is overly “woke,” critics have noted that Times New Roman is widely regarded as outdated. Even The New York Times stopped using the font nearly two decades ago.

The State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the font change.