Nope, I'm not. If trainees are not brought back soon, they're going to get furloughed. Nobody has any incentive to bring them back to work.
The don't bother training them comment was a bit tongue-in-cheek, but it's obviously the mentality of NATCA, the FAA, and most certified essential controllers. Period.
Sure there is. NATCA doesn't want you back, and that's the only reason that matters. The heck with long term staffing, the heck with upcoming retirements, if these trainees can't certify on pre-covid traffic which they won't see for years, furlough them!