New Delhi: The Trump administration has reversed a 2023 directive on the font style used for official communications, marking the White House’s return to Times New Roman.

The Joe Biden administration had switched to Calibri in 2023, citing it as the more accessible choice for people with disabilities. However, in line with US President Donald Trump’s undermining of diversity initiatives, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier this week asked diplomats to return to using Times New Roman font in official communications, news agency Reuters reported.

Rubio called former Secretary of State Antony Blinken's decision to use Calibri a "wasteful" diversity move, according to documents seen by Reuters.

The document, dated December 9, said that sans-serif fonts like Calibri appear informal. Sans-serif fonts lack angular elements as opposed to serif typefaces.

"To restore decorum and professionalism to the Department’s written work products and abolish yet another wasteful DEIA program, the Department is returning to Times New Roman as its standard typeface," the document said.

"This formatting standard aligns with the President’s One Voice for America’s Foreign Relations directive, underscoring the Department’s responsibility to present a unified, professional voice in all communications," it added.

Studies have suggested that sans-serif fonts are easier to read for those with visual disabilities.

Earlier this year, Trump had said that his administration would end “discrimination programs, going by the name 'diversity, equity, and inclusion' and has passed several such directives to this end, including the rollback of transgender rights in the US, since taking office. 

"...nearly every Federal agency and entity submitted 'Equity Action Plans' to detail the ways that they have furthered DEIs infiltration of the Federal Government. The public release of these plans demonstrated immense public waste and shameful discrimination. That ends today. Americans deserve a government committed to serving every person with equal dignity and respect, and to expending precious taxpayer resources only on making America great again," a statement released by the White House on January 20, 2025 said.

The mandate also included the termination of all official posts like "Chief Diversity Officer, all “equity action plans,” “equity” actions, initiatives, or programs, “equity-related” grants or contracts; and all DEI or DEIA performance requirements for employees, contractors, or grantees."

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