PI3K Inhibitor BKM120 and Cetuximab in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically / cytologically confirmed diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck origin not amenable to curative intent therapy; both human papillomavirus (HPV)(+) and HPV(-) tumors are eligible; tumors (squamous histology) of unknown primary that are clearly related to the head and neck area are eligible * Presence of measurable lesions (RECIST V1.1) * Mandatory tumor biopsy/biopsies in accessible tumors; for inaccessible tumors availability of tissue is required: \>= 10 tumor containing formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) slides/sections * Progressive disease after exposure to a platinating agent (e.g. cisplatin or carboplatin) in a prior line of therapy, or documented intolerance to such an agent * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status =\< 2 * No more than two lines of prior cytotoxic chemotherapy in the recurrent/metastatic (palliative intent) treatment setting * Prior use of cetuximab or another epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor is allowable and if used as a single agent should not be considered as a cytotoxic chemotherapy * Patients must have at least one site of measurable disease (if applicable) (per RECIST for solid tumors or the appropriate disease classification/criteria for the target population) * Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \>= 1.5 x 10\^9/L * Platelets \>= 100 x 10\^9/L * Hemoglobin (Hb) \> 9 g/dL * Total calcium (corrected for serum albumin) within normal limits * Magnesium \>=…