Maine could benefit from a judge’s decision Wednesday, blocking the Trump administration from slashing National Institutes of Health payments for research.

Senator Susan Collins has said the administration’s order could halt critical biomedical research like that taking place in Maine at the Jackson Laboratory, the University of Maine, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, the University of New England, and MDI Biological Laboratory.

The order would cap payments for indirect costs, such as administrative fees linked to research, at 15 percent.

Maine joined 21 other states in a lawsuit against the cap, which has been blocked from taking effect while the case continues to be litigated. Three separate lawsuits oppose the cap.

However, the decision Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley suggests the lawsuits might be successful. ““It is likely Plaintiffs will succeed on the merits, rendering the notice unlawful,” said Kelly.

The order for the 15 cap on indirect costs for research was issued last month by the National Institute of Health, which issues the research grants.