Overview
- An internal cable dated December 9 instructs diplomats to use Times New Roman for official communications with immediate implementation at embassies and consulates.
- The directive reverses Antony Blinken’s 2023 shift to Calibri, which had been introduced to bolster accessibility for some readers.
- Rubio casts the change as restoring decorum and aligning with President Trump’s “One Voice for the United States” guidance for foreign policy messaging.
- According to AP and Reuters, narrow exceptions require Courier New at 12 point for international treaties and presidential appointment documents.
- Accessibility experts say no single font is optimal and legibility depends on factors such as size, spacing and stroke contrast; the department has not disclosed costs or offered further public details.