A former leader of the state’s aging agency has filed suit against Massachusetts, alleging her dismissal was influenced by racial bias and mishandled by senior officials.

Elizabeth Chen, who led the Executive Office of Elder Affairs from 2019 until June 2024, filed a civil complaint in Suffolk Superior Court on February 18, 2026. The lawsuit names the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (HHS), former Health and Human Services Secretary Kate Walsh, Chief of Staff Christopher Harding, and HR Director Sonia Bryan. Chen alleges racial discrimination, retaliation, coercion, and intimidation, arguing that anti-Asian stereotypes shaped how her leadership was evaluated and ultimately ended.

Chen, who emigrated from Taiwan as a child, was appointed during the Baker administration and remained in place when Governor Maura Healey took office. While leadership turnover is common during transitions, the lawsuit notes that another Asian department head within HHS was also removed early in the Healey administration. Chen argues that in a November 2023 meeting, Walsh questioned whether the role was “too big” for her and cited concerns about staffing turnover and legislative feedback. The suit contends those critiques echoed stereotypes about Asian leaders lacking assertiveness or executive presence.

According to the complaint, Chen agreed to professional coaching after being told it was not disciplinary and that successful completion would allow her to retain her position. She underwent a comprehensive performance review — something she alleges no other HHS department head received at that time. The coaching concluded in April 2024 with a written improvement roadmap and measurable benchmarks. Weeks later, Walsh informed her she was being dismissed.

In correspondence included in the lawsuit, Chen wrote that she felt “torn down” as an Asian woman in leadership and criticized what she described as vague direction and shifting expectations. She left the role on June 1, 2024. HHS has declined to comment, citing pending litigation.

The agency Chen led — now renamed the Executive Office of Aging and Independence — oversees programs serving roughly 1.7 million older adults. It contracts with 24 regional Aging Services Access Points and regulates assisted living, home care, and supports for family caregivers. The office is now led by Robin Lipson.

The case unfolds at a time of heightened scrutiny of elder services in Massachusetts, amid demographic pressures and funding debates. Beyond the employment dispute, the lawsuit raises broader questions about leadership accountability, equity in state government, and stability at the helm of agencies that oversee home care, assisted living, and community-based aging services across the Commonwealth.