WASHINGTON D.C. — The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a surprising directive to the State Department, ordering an immediate cessation of the use of the Calibri typeface and a mandatory return to the classic serif font, Times New Roman, for all official correspondence.
The order, reportedly circulated via an internal memo, cited the need for “restoring professionalism and decorum” to the State Department’s written work products. The directive effectively reverses a 2023 policy that made the sans-serif Calibri the standard to improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities who use screen readers and other assistive technologies. That earlier shift was recommended by the Secretary’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion (DEI).
The new mandate from DHS—an unusual source for dictating font policy to the State Department—appears to align with a broader, government-wide push to dismantle programs and policies linked to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Critics of the reversal argue that the move disregards the accessibility needs of a segment of the population for the sake of aesthetic tradition. However, proponents within DHS and other agencies maintain that the formal appearance of Times New Roman is essential for government documents, which often require a tone of authority and tradition.
The State Department first adopted Times New Roman as its standard font in 2004, a tradition broken when the department switched to the 14-point Calibri in 2023. This latest reversal underscores the ongoing, and sometimes petty, bureaucratic tug-of-war over what constitutes proper and official government communication. The directive is set to take immediate effect, requiring all domestic offices and overseas posts to update document templates and internal guidance accordingly. Failure to comply, the memo warns, will result in the rejection of work products by the Executive Secretariat. The cost implications and logistical challenges of repeated typeface changes across the global network of embassies and consulates remain unclear.
Sources and Links
- Washington Examiner: Rubio reverts State Department-mandated type font to Times New Roman in anti-DEI move
- Popsci.com: Why the State Department is the new ambassador for the Calibri font
- Newsday: Calibri font becomes the latest DEI target as Rubio orders return to Times New Roman
- State.gov: 2023 PLAIN WRITING ACT COMPLIANCE REPORTÂ
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