US State Department Reverts to Times New Roman for Official Communications
The US State Department has reverted to using Times New Roman as the standard typeface for official communications, reversing a 2023 change to Calibri implemented during the Biden administration. A department cable dated December 9, 2025, distributed to all U.S. diplomatic posts, prompted this reversal. The cable, reviewed by Reuters, states that Times New Roman better conveys decorum and professionalism, while Calibri is described as informal by comparison.
This decision aligns with President Trump's 'One Voice for America’s Foreign Relations' directive. Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized the previous switch to Calibri as wasteful and tied to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) programs. The initial change in 2023 under Secretary Antony Blinken was justified by accessibility considerations, with some studies suggesting sans-serif fonts like Calibri aid readability for individuals with certain disabilities.
The State Department did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment on the recent change. This font reversion is part of the broader political context marked by the Trump administration's efforts to roll back DEI programs, including related diversity roles and funding, following their assumption of office in January 2025.
