Marco Rubio bans Calibri font at State Department for being too DEI

In a surprising move that could easily be mistaken for satire, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has officially banned the Calibri font from being used in documents at the State Department. Instead, he has mandated the use of Times New Roman, a choice that has sparked considerable discussion, as reported by the New York Times following the leak of an internal memo. The decision stems from Calibri's association with the previous administration's focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEI). This font was introduced in 2023 during President Biden's term, specifically selected by the now-defunct DEI office to enhance readability for individuals with visual impairments. Sans-serif fonts like Calibri are often praised for their cleaner lines and wider letter spacing, which can aid those with dyslexia and low vision. In his memo, Rubio stated that transitioning to Times New Roman would help restore "decorum and professionalism" within official correspondence. While he acknowledged that Calibri was not the most extreme example of DEI policies, he criticized it for contributing to what he described as the degradation of the State Department’s communications. The choice of font has sparked mixed reactions, with many expressing their disdain for Calibri – a sentiment echoed by various TechCrunch writers. However, Rubio's harsh criticism of a font has raised eyebrows, as font preferences often stir passionate debates akin to sports rivalries. Interestingly, Times New Roman is considered somewhat antiquated, with even the New York Times abandoning it nearly two decades ago. As of now, the State Department has not provided any comments regarding this font controversy.