The trial of nongovernmental organizations accused of operating illegally in Egypt is slated to resume Tuesday as the case fuels a diplomatic rift between the United States and Egypt . A total of 43 workers are on trial after authorities targeted 10 NGOs in a series of December raids . The defendants include 17 foreigners -- 10 Americans , three Serbians , two Germans , a Norwegian and a Palestinian . The rest are Egyptians . The employees were charged with operating in Egypt without being officially registered and receiving foreign funding . Egyptian officials said their work contributed to international interference that was stoking continued protests against the government . The case of the NGOs sparked one of the worst crises in Egyptian-American relations at the time . `` We continue to make very clear our objection to what we view as these politically motivated trials , and urge the government to stop trying these individuals and instead resolve any outstanding issues that they may have on this matter on a government to government basis , '' Mark Toner , deputy spokesman for the U.S. State Department , said Monday . A group of American , European and Palestinian defendants had been under a travel ban that was eventually lifted . Most left Cairo after posting about $ 132,000 each in bail money . They will be tried in absentia . Sixteen Americans were part of the group , including Sam LaHood , the son of U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood . American Robert Becker chose to stay in Cairo and face state prosecutors . If found guilty , Becker could face up to six years in an Egyptian prison . But he says it 's a risk he 's willing to take . `` It 's a concern . But again , at the end of the day , the guys that I 'm going to be in the cage with are part of my family , '' said Becker , who was working with the National Democratic Institute . `` I keep saying captains stay with their crew . There is no way that I would be able to live with myself being safely in the United States if they were potentially facing a jail term . '' Becker has experience as a political organizer , with skills greatly in demand in a suddenly re-politicized Egypt . `` Part of our mandate at the NDI was that we trained and we taught everybody , from Islamists ... nationalists , liberals , socialists '' and supporters of ousted President Hosni Mubarak , Becker said . `` So it was thousands of them . '' Becker 's colleague , Hafsa Halawa , said she is confident justice will prevail . `` We 're not guilty of these crimes , '' Halawa said . `` Regardless of the political issues surrounding the case , people cry it 's a bogus charge . '' If the trial ends with acquittal , however , victory will be bittersweet for Becker . His employer , the NDI , paid his bail and continues to cover his legal expenses , but terminated his services . The other groups targeted by the raids include Freedom House , the International Center for Journalists and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation . A group of American lawmakers have said Egypt 's action could mean the end of $ 1.3 billion in U.S. aid . In a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta , 41 members of Congress urged the administration to withhold aid to Egypt until the country 's leadership allows the offices of those organizations to reopen and returns seized property .
43 defendants are on trial , many in absentia . American Robert Becker is staying in Cairo to stand trial . Comment: U.S. official : We object to what we view as politically-motivated trials .