AUGUSTA, Maine (AP)   A federal judge in Maine has ordered Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s administration to release millions of dollars in federal funding for job training.

In a ruling Wednesday, the judge says the governor is required to release the money by law. The judge also ruled holding the funds could cause “irreparable harm” to Coastal Counties Workforce Inc.

Coastal Counties, a Brunswick-based nonprofit organization, filed a lawsuit against LePage in October for $3 million in funding provided through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. The program sends about $9 million to the state every year.

LePage has previously called the program wasteful and wanted to organize the three regional boards receiving the money into a single statewide body.

A spokeswoman for LePage has declined to comment on the ruling.