The U.S. State Department, under Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has reversed a 2023 policy and mandated the return to Times New Roman as the official font for all official communications. This decision cancels the previous shift to Calibri, a sans-serif font chosen for improved readability, particularly on digital screens.
Why the Shift? The Politics of Font Choice
The move, framed by Rubio as a return to “tradition, formality, and ceremony,” has sparked criticism due to its implications for accessibility. The State Department spokesperson defended the decision as a way to strengthen credibility and create a unified Department identity. However, critics point out that the change directly contradicts modern accessibility guidelines and federal recommendations.
The policy shift was explicitly linked to criticism of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility programs, which Rubio blamed for the “wasteful” adoption of Calibri. This framing has led to the move being characterized as another front in the administration’s broader cultural and political agenda.
The Accessibility Implications: Serif vs. Sans-Serif
The core issue lies in the fundamental difference between serif and sans-serif fonts. Times New Roman is a serif font – meaning it has small decorative strokes at the ends of letters. While aesthetically traditional, serifs can hinder readability for some, especially those with dyslexia or other visual impairments.
Calibri, a sans-serif font, lacks these strokes, making it cleaner and easier to process on screens. This is why accessibility guidelines like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) recommend sans-serif fonts for digital text. The State Department’s decision flies in the face of these established standards.
Cost and Practical Concerns
Beyond accessibility, the move also raises practical concerns. Research, including a study by a sixth-grader in 2014, suggests that serif fonts like Times New Roman use more ink than their sans-serif counterparts. While not a massive expense, it represents an unnecessary step backward in efficiency.
The decision also ignores the fact that Calibri was the default Microsoft font for 17 years before Aptos, making it a familiar and comfortable typeface for many office workers.
Conclusion
The State Department’s return to Times New Roman is not merely a stylistic choice; it’s a deliberate rollback of accessibility standards framed as a return to tradition. The decision risks alienating readers with visual impairments, undermines federal accessibility guidelines, and adds an unnecessary layer of friction to official communications. The move highlights how even seemingly minor bureaucratic changes can carry significant political and practical consequences.
