Overview
- An internal cable dated Dec. 9 directs all diplomatic posts to use Times New Roman at 14-point for official communications, replacing Calibri adopted in 2023.
- The rule covers both internal and external documents, with exemptions that keep Courier New 12-point for treaties and presidential appointment papers.
- Rubio’s memo calls the Calibri shift a wasteful DEIA measure and asserts accessibility remediation cases did not decline and costs rose by $145,000.
- A State Department spokesperson said the move aligns with a push for a unified, formal voice and noted serif fonts remain standard across courts and federal agencies.
- Accessibility advocates and Calibri’s designer, Lucas de Groot, argue sans-serif fonts can be easier to read on screens for people with dyslexia or low vision.