Rubio Shifts US Diplomacy Back to Timeless Times New Roman

In a move reversing the Biden administration's 2023 shift, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has ordered American diplomats to revert to using Times New Roman as the standard typeface for official documents. The updated guidance takes effect immediately. The decision aims to project a more formal and professional image, according to a State Department spokesperson. This stance aligns with the administration's directive to present a unified 'One Voice for America's Foreign Relations.' Rubio has directly linked the earlier change to Calibri, a sans serif font, to the Biden-era diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. He argued that the shift 'achieved nothing except the degradation of the department's correspondence.' The Secretary has been actively dismantling DEI-focused offices and programs across the department. Lucas de Groot, the designer of Calibri, expressed surprise at the policy's reversal. He described the decision as 'hilarious and a bit of a sad step back into the past.' De Groot emphasized that Calibri was designed for clarity and readability, particularly on small screens. The new rule applies to diplomatic communications, with updated templates across the department. However, international treaties and presidential appointment papers remain exempt, as they must continue using Courier New in 12-point font. This shift comes amidst the Trump administration's broader efforts to target DEI programs throughout the federal government.