Only a month behind? That's really good for a government agency. I had to get a "real ID" for my driver's license renewal (can't drive without a license, so infinitely more important than a drone license) and I had to make a reservation for the in-person part of the application: the earliest date I could get was two months into the future.
I'm not sure how much of that delay was the federal government, and how much was the state of California, since both entities are now involved in the licensing process, at least when you get a license that is also going to be used in lieu of a passport when traveling domestically.
In case you didn't know, you will no longer be able to travel anywhere in the USA, using a common carrier like an airline, unless you have either a "real ID," or a passport. Your regular drivers license will no longer be accepted after October 1, 2020.