State Department restores Times New Roman for documents
Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered all State Department offices worldwide to switch official documents from Calibri back to Times New Roman in 14‑point font, effective Wednesday, reversing a 2023 change made under Antony Blinken. The department told NPR that consistent formatting supports a unified identity, while Rubio’s cable framed the prior switch as a DEI‑driven decision; accessibility experts warn serif fonts can be harder to read for people with dyslexia or low vision.
📌 Key Facts
- Directive: Use Times New Roman 14‑point for all official documents, effective Wednesday
- Reverses 2023 Blinken-era shift to Calibri; TNR was State’s standard from 2004–2023
- State Department statement cites credibility/unified identity; Rubio cable calls the 2023 change a 'wasteful DEIA program' (per AP/Reuters)
- Expert quoted by NPR says serif fonts can impair readability for some disabilities; ADA favors sans-serif on signage/screens
📊 Relevant Data
Dyslexia affects approximately 20% of the US population.
Dyslexia FAQ — Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity
50% of African American students read at a level considered 'below basic' compared to 20% of White students, according to NAEP data, potentially indicating higher rates of undiagnosed dyslexia.
New Study Highlights Potential Missed Diagnoses of Dyslexia in African American Students — Yale School of Medicine
Sans-serif fonts are more readable for people with dyslexia compared to serif fonts, according to multiple surveys and studies.
Dyslexia - Does Font Really Matter? — Learning Ally
The prevalence of visual disability is 3.0% among Black Americans compared to 2.4% among White Americans, 2.2% among Hispanic Americans, and 1.4% among Asian Americans.
Blindness Statistics — National Federation of the Blind
Approximately 7.2 million Americans aged 16 and older have a visual disability.
Blindness Statistics — National Federation of the Blind