Egypt’s military government said Sunday that it would put 43 people, including 19 Americans, on trial in connection with a criminal investigation of foreign-funded nonprofit groups operating in the country, writes The New York Times.

The announcement in state-run media comes amid rising tension between Washington and Cairo over Egypt’s investigation of democracy-building organizations it says are operating without proper licenses and fomenting protests to destabilize the country.

The most prominent targets appear to the International Republican Institute and the National Democratic Institute, related organization with close ties to Congressional leaders, many of whom have joined the White House in warning that the prosecutions could jeopardize $1.55-billion U.S. aid to Egypt.