Marco Rubio Bans Calibri Font at State Department - DEI Concerns

Font Controversy at the State Department

The Calibri font has recently been removed from use by government personnel, a decision stemming from its perceived association with diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility initiatives.

This unusual action, reminiscent of satirical news sources, has seen U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio mandate the use of Times New Roman for all official State Department documents. This change was reported by the New York Times following the acquisition of a confidential internal memo.

Background of the Font Change

Calibri, a sans-serif typeface, was initially implemented in 2023 during the Biden administration. The selection was made by the department’s former DEI office, which has since been dissolved following the Trump administration’s policies against DEI programs.

The adoption of Calibri aimed to enhance readability for individuals with visual impairments. Sans-serif fonts, characterized by their lack of embellishments at the ends of letter strokes, are often considered more accessible. Their cleaner design and increased letter spacing can benefit those with conditions like dyslexia or low vision.

Rubio's Rationale

Secretary Rubio’s memo formally establishes Times New Roman as the official font for his term. He asserts that this change will “restore decorum and professionalism” to official correspondence.

While acknowledging that Calibri wasn’t the most egregious example of DEI practices, Rubio criticized the font for contributing to what he described as “the degradation” of the State Department’s official communications.

Despite widespread dislike for Calibri among many individuals, the severity of the criticism has been noted as particularly strong.

Internal Reactions and Historical Context

Reports indicate that concerns were raised within the department when Calibri was first adopted in 2023. Font preferences often evoke strong opinions, similar to those held for sports teams.

Calibri itself did not offer a statement regarding the claims of being “woke.” However, Times New Roman is widely regarded as a traditional and somewhat outdated font, even discontinued by the New York Times nearly twenty years ago.

The State Department has yet to respond to requests for further comment on this matter.

Key Takeaways

• Calibri was replaced by Times New Roman due to its association with DEI initiatives.
• The decision was made by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
• The change aims to restore “decorum and professionalism” to State Department documents.
• Calibri was initially chosen to improve accessibility for those with visual impairments.